Adaptation strategies of horses with induced forelimb lameness walking on a treadmill.
Authors: Serra Bragança Filipe M, Hernlund Elin, Thomsen Maj H, Waldern Nina M, Rhodin Marie, Byström Anna, van Weeren P René, Weishaupt Michael A
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Gait Adaptation in Walk-Lame Horses Whilst trotting lameness has been extensively documented, the compensatory strategies horses employ during walk remain poorly characterised, prompting this investigation into how induced forelimb pain alters locomotor mechanics across both gaits. Researchers induced moderate sole pressure lameness in 10 Warmbloods and captured three-dimensional kinematics and vertical ground reaction forces during treadmill walk and trot, using mixed-model statistics to identify significant deviations from sound baseline movement. At walk, lame horses demonstrated reduced vertical force output in the affected limb's second peak and lower vertical impulse, alongside shortened stride and stance duration across all four limbs; notably, head and withers vertical symmetry were disrupted, fetlock extension decreased, and limb protraction speed diminished in the lame forelimb, with measurable changes in centre-of-mass translation occurring in all three planes. Compensatory adjustments in the contralateral and hind limbs were evident, though overall kinetic and kinematic changes at walk proved substantially more subtle than those observed at trot. For practitioners, these findings suggest that head movement and forelimb vertical force symmetry warrant particular attention during walk-phase lameness assessment, though the gait's inherently smaller compensatory responses may necessitate more sensitive diagnostic tools or multimodal evaluation strategies to reliably identify early forelimb pain in ridden and working horses.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Head movement and forelimb vertical force symmetry are the most reliable indicators for detecting forelimb lameness at walk in clinical assessment
- •Walking lame horses shows subtler compensatory patterns than trotting, requiring careful observation of specific kinematic markers for accurate lameness detection
- •Individual variation in gait compensation strategies means no single parameter should be relied upon; assess multiple kinetic and kinematic changes for comprehensive lameness evaluation
Key Findings
- •Forelimb lameness at walk reduced peak ground reaction forces on the second force peak and vertical impulse in the lame limb
- •Head and withers vertical movement symmetry were significantly affected by forelimb lameness at walk
- •Changes in kinetic and kinematic parameters were generally smaller at walk compared to trot, with fewer variables affected
- •Maximum limb retraction angle, fetlock extension, and protraction speed were reduced in the lame limb, with compensatory changes observed in nonlame limbs