Repeatability of back kinematics in horses during treadmill locomotion.
Authors: Faber M, Johnston C, van Weeren P R, Barneveld A
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Repeatability of Back Kinematics in Horses During Treadmill Locomotion Objective kinematic assessment of equine back movement offers clinicians a quantifiable tool for evaluating horses with suspected spinal dysfunction, but the clinical utility of such techniques depends entirely on their reliability. Faber and colleagues assessed the repeatability of a standardised treadmill-based protocol by measuring back kinematics in ten sound horses across five consecutive days, with five animals tested in each of two separate laboratories during both walk and trot. Between-stride and between-day repeatability proved excellent for spatiotemporal parameters and time-angle diagrams of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum and hindlimb; however, considerably greater variability emerged between individual horses, particularly in lateral bending of the L1 vertebra. Range of motion measurements demonstrated between-day coefficients of variability below 14%, whilst between-horse variability was up to four times higher, with minimal differences observed between the two laboratories. These findings validate back kinematic analysis as a clinically reliable tool for longitudinal monitoring of individual horses and objectively comparing their movement patterns to their own baseline, though practitioners should recognise that substantial individual variation means cross-horse comparisons require cautious interpretation.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Back kinematic analysis using treadmill protocols provides sufficiently repeatable data to support clinical decision-making for horses with suspected back problems
- •Results are consistent between days and labs when using standardized protocols, making this a reliable objective assessment tool for clinical practice
- •Individual variation between horses is substantial, so kinematic values must be interpreted individually rather than against population norms for clinical utility
Key Findings
- •High between-stride and between-day repeatability was observed in spatiotemporal parameters and time-angle diagrams during walk and trot
- •Between-day coefficient of variability for range of motion was <14%, while between-horse variability was up to 4 times higher
- •Lateral bending rotation of L1 vertebra showed the highest dissimilarity between horses
- •Small differences in range of motion values were found between two laboratories using standardized protocol