Smart textiles biotechnology for electrocardiogram monitoring in horses during exercise on treadmill: Validation tests.
Authors: Felici Martina, Nardelli Mimma, Lanatà Antonio, Sgorbini Micaela, Pasquale Scilingo Enzo, Baragli Paolo
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Smart Textile Electrodes for Equine ECG Monitoring Reliable electrocardiography during exercise is fundamental to equine sports medicine, yet practical constraints—particularly the need for skin preparation and electrode adhesion—can compromise signal quality in field conditions. Researchers compared novel textile-based smart electrodes against conventional silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) electrodes by simultaneously recording ECGs from five Standardbred mares during standardised treadmill exercise, with the textile system requiring no skin shaving and the Ag/AgCl system tested both with and without adhesive glue. Textile electrodes demonstrated significantly superior signal quality, evidenced by higher kurtosis values (k) and Signal Quality Index measurements (kSQI) that more closely approximated ideal parameters; differences reached statistical significance when Ag/AgCl electrodes were used with glue (P < 0.001), though the advantage persisted without glue (P = 0.08). The practical appeal is substantial—textile electrodes eliminate skin preparation steps, reduce preparation time, and maintain performance across dynamic exercise without requiring adhesive reinforcement, making them a genuine advance for practitioners conducting field-based cardiac assessments. However, the validation was limited to treadmill work without ridden exercise or harness equipment, so field validation during actual competition or training scenarios would strengthen the case for broader clinical adoption.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Textile-based ECG electrodes may offer a more practical and comfortable alternative to traditional adhesive electrodes for cardiac monitoring during equine exercise testing, eliminating the need for skin shaving
- •Signal quality from textile electrodes was superior or equivalent to standard electrodes, suggesting they could improve reliability of ECG interpretation in sports medicine evaluations
- •This technology may reduce preparation time and skin irritation for horses requiring cardiac monitoring during exercise protocols
Key Findings
- •Smart textile electrodes produced higher Kurtosis values and Signal Quality Indexes compared to standard Ag/AgCl electrodes during treadmill exercise
- •Textile electrodes achieved significantly better signal quality than Ag/AgCl electrodes with glue application (P<0.001), but not without glue (P=0.08)
- •Textile electrodes did not require skin shaving and remained effective for ECG acquisition during standardized exercise tests
- •Smart textile electrodes represent a practical solution for obtaining high-quality ECG traces in horses during treadmill exercise