Inertial Sensor Technologies-Their Role in Equine Gait Analysis, a Review.
Authors: Crecan, Peștean
Journal: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Inertial Sensor Technologies in Equine Gait Analysis Inertial measurement units (IMUs)—wearable sensors that detect acceleration and angular velocity—represent a significant advancement in objective gait analysis because they enable continuous, non-invasive monitoring of horses during normal field conditions, without requiring laboratory equipment or markers. This 2023 narrative review synthesised evidence comparing IMU performance against established techniques such as force plates and optical motion capture systems across multiple applications: detection of lameness, assessment of normal locomotion, evaluation of horse-rider biomechanics, and measurement of drug effects on gait. The collected research demonstrates that IMU-based systems deliver high accuracy and precision comparable to or exceeding traditional objective methods, with the added practical advantages of portability, real-time data collection, and suitability for field use during walk, trot, and canter. For equine professionals—particularly vets conducting lameness examinations and physiotherapists monitoring rehabilitation—this technology offers reliable quantitative data to support clinical decision-making and track subtle improvements in gait symmetry that may be invisible to the naked eye. The authors identify significant scope for translating human-derived IMU protocols to equine practice, suggesting that standardised, validated sensor systems could become routine diagnostic tools alongside traditional palpation and flexion testing.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •IMU technology offers a practical, portable alternative to expensive force plates and motion capture systems for objective lameness evaluation in field settings.
- •Continuous monitoring capability of wearable IMUs allows detection of subtle gait changes and early lameness that may not be apparent during ridden assessment.
- •IMU-based systems can provide objective data on horse-rider biomechanics and the effects of medications, supporting evidence-based management decisions.
Key Findings
- •IMU-based sensor systems can monitor and quantify horse locomotion with high accuracy and precision, achieving comparable or superior performance to force plates and optical motion capture systems.
- •Inertial measurement units provide non-invasive, continuous monitoring of equine gait during walk, trot, and canter in field conditions.
- •IMU systems are reliable tools for evaluating horse-rider interactions and detecting the influence of sedative drugs on locomotion.
- •IMUs offer advantages in sensitivity and accuracy over traditional objective measurement techniques due to their wearable nature and real-time data collection capability.