Evaluation of Within- and Between- Session Reliability of the TekscanTM Hoof System With a Glue-on Shoe.

Authors: Logan Alyssa A, Nielsen Brian D, Hallock David B, Robison Cara I, Popovich John M

Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science

DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103862 PubMed: 34979263Log in to save

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Tekscan Hoof System Reliability With Glue-on Shoes The Tekscan Hoof System offers an objective, technology-based approach to measuring hoof loading dynamics—force and contact area—during locomotion, addressing the subjective limitations of traditional gait analysis. Logan and colleagues evaluated the reproducibility of this system in four Standardbred geldings wearing glued-on sensor shoes, conducting paired morning and afternoon sessions at walk and trot with three recordings per gait per session. Within-session reliability proved excellent at both gaits (intraclass correlation coefficients >0.96), whilst between-session comparisons showed good reliability at walk (0.96) and excellent reliability at trot (0.98), though force and area measurements declined significantly in afternoon sessions (P <0.0001), likely attributable to cumulative sensor degradation during the day's use. These findings establish the Tekscan system as a dependable tool for comparing hoof loading parameters within a single assessment session, yet practitioners and researchers must exercise caution when tracking longitudinal changes or comparing data across separate sessions without accounting for potential sensor wear—a limitation that warrants consideration when designing longitudinal lameness or farriery intervention studies.

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Practical Takeaways

•The Tekscan system is reliable for comparing multiple gait recordings within the same session, making it suitable for analyzing gait changes during a single assessment
•When comparing hoof force data between different days or sessions, account for expected measurement decline and consider recalibration or sensor replacement to ensure valid comparisons
•Standardize testing to AM sessions when possible, or use paired AM/PM recordings with awareness that afternoon measurements will be systematically lower

Key Findings

•Tekscan Hoof System demonstrated excellent within-session reliability (ICC > 0.96) for both walk and trot gaits
•Between-session reliability was good for walk (ICC = 0.96) and excellent for trot (ICC = 0.98) when comparing AM and PM sessions
•Force and area measurements were significantly higher in AM sessions than PM sessions (P < 0.0001), suggesting potential sensor degradation over time
•The glue-on shoe mounting method proved effective for securing sensors across multiple recording sessions

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