The hindlimb in walking horses: 2. Net joint moments and joint powers.
Authors: Clayton H M, Hodson E, Lanovaz J L, Colborne G R
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Net Joint Moments and Powers in the Equine Hindlimb During Walking Clayton and colleagues used synchronised kinematic and force plate analysis on five sound horses to map how net joint moments shift throughout the walking stride and which joints generate or absorb energy at each phase. The hip joint emerged as the primary engine driving hindlimb locomotion, consistently generating power throughout both stance and swing, whilst the tarsal joint provided crucial assistance and the fetlock contributed notably during the weight-bearing phase. Energy dissipation followed a distinct pattern: the coffin joint functioned as a shock absorber during stance, the stifle absorbed comparable energy in both phases, and during protraction and retraction of the swinging limb, the more distal joints appeared to be passively driven by inertial forces rather than active muscular control. These findings establish baseline biomechanical signatures for normal locomotion and provide a framework for detecting pathological changes in joint function following soft tissue injury—knowledge that could help farriers, physiotherapists and veterinarians identify compensatory patterns or residual dysfunction earlier in the rehabilitation process. Understanding which joints normally contribute to propulsion versus energy absorption is particularly valuable when assessing recovery after suspensory apparatus injuries or other hindlimb soft tissue damage that might alter these energy profiles.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Understanding that the hip is the primary power source during walking can help identify compensatory patterns when hip injuries are present
- •Proximal joints (hip, tarsal) drive locomotion while distal joints (coffin, fetlock) have significant damping and energy absorption roles—injuries to these joints will have different functional consequences
- •Changes in joint moment patterns could serve as diagnostic markers for soft tissue injuries before clinical lameness becomes apparent
Key Findings
- •Hip joint is the primary energy generator throughout the stride, assisted by tarsal joint in both stance and swing phases and fetlock joint during stance
- •Net joint moments shift from caudal/plantar (active retraction at stance start) to cranial/dorsal (limb protraction in swing) based on phase of gait cycle
- •Coffin joint functions as energy damper during stance while stifle absorbs approximately equal energy during both stance and swing phases
- •Coffin and fetlock joints absorb energy during swing phase, indicating their movements are driven by inertial forces rather than active muscular control