An Instrumented Equine Shoe for Kinetic Gait Analysis
Authors: Alanna Devolin, Ifaz T Haider, Olivia Kenny, W. B. Edwards, K. Murari, W. Scott
Journal: 2023 IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BioCAS)
Summary
# Editorial Summary: An Instrumented Equine Shoe for Kinetic Gait Analysis Lameness remains one of equine practice's most persistent diagnostic challenges, with traditional visual assessment by veterinarians inherently subjective and frequently missing mild cases that nonetheless compromise performance and welfare. Researchers at the 2023 IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference described the development and validation of a self-contained, wireless instrumented horseshoe capable of measuring ground reaction forces (GRFs) in real-time during natural movement, addressing a significant gap left by force plates, which capture only isolated strides in laboratory settings. The device utilises piezoresistive sensors integrated into the shoe structure and demonstrated measurement accuracy within 5–10% error when validated against gold-standard load cell equipment in both mechanical testing machines and equine cadaver limb models. Practitioners could ultimately use such technology to objectively quantify lameness across multiple successive strides in diverse environments—from arena work to turnout—enabling earlier detection of subtle gait abnormalities, more precise monitoring of rehabilitation progress, and better-informed treatment decisions. Whilst further in vivo validation is needed before clinical deployment, this engineering advancement represents a meaningful step towards objective, field-deployable kinetic assessment that could complement or refine visual evaluation across farriery, veterinary, and sports medicine contexts.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This technology could enable objective lameness assessment in the field and across varied gaits, reducing reliance on subjective visual evaluation by veterinarians
- •The self-contained design with onboard data storage eliminates the limitations of force plates (which cannot record successive strides) and previous prototypes that required tethering or external equipment
- •The 5-10% measurement accuracy suggests the device is ready for in vivo testing on live horses and could become a practical diagnostic tool for lameness evaluation
Key Findings
- •A tether-free, self-contained instrumented horseshoe was successfully designed for measuring ground reaction forces in horses
- •Validation testing against load cells showed 5-10% measurement error in materials testing and equine cadaver limb setups
- •The device uses piezoresistive sensors to measure kinetic data without requiring external data collection equipment