Adaptations in equine axial movement and muscle activity occur during induced fore‐ and hindlimb lameness: A kinematic and electromyographic evaluation during in‐hand trot

Spoormakers, T. J. P.; George, Lindsay Blair St; Smit, Ineke H.; Hobbs, Sarah Jane; Brommer, Harold; Clayton, Hilary M.; Roy, Serge H.; Richards, Jim; Bragança, F. M. Serra

doi:10.1111/evj.13906

Cited by 7 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…In contrast, greater sEMGabs increases of the LS semitendinosus and gluteal may reflect increased requirements of these muscles for mitigating loading in the affected LS hindlimb ( 18 ). In longissimus, more pronounced ARV increases have been observed at the LS T14 location than at the NLS location during thoracolumbar extension, possibly reflecting increased requirements for stabilizing the trunk against compensatory sagittal plane forces during iHL ( 1 , 17 ). Further studies are required to confirm these observations and theories, especially as horses exhibited individual variation in their response to iHL, particularly in the LS muscles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Retro-reflective markers were attached over anatomical landmarks on the forelimbs, hindlimbs, head, and back. The reader is referred to St. George et al ( 18 ) and Spoormakers et al ( 17 ) for detailed descriptions of sEMG sensor and retro-reflective marker locations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, sEMG was used to conduct the first comparative study of adaptive muscle activity during induced, unilateral fore- (iFL) and hindlimb (iHL) lameness conditions ( 17 , 18 ). When compared to the non-lame/baseline condition, significant bilateral changes in amplitude, quantified using the average rectified value (ARV), and the phasic activity pattern of sEMG signals from selected appendicular and axial muscles were observed during iFL and iHL ( 17 , 18 ). However, despite its proven research applications and ability to detect muscular adaptations during equine lameness ( 17 , 18 ), it remains unknown whether sEMG can be used clinically to classify non-lame and lame conditions in horses and, if so, what sEMG parameters can be recommended for making this distinction on the basis of sensitivity and specificity outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a first step, evaluating and comparing the performance of selected sEMG parameters and kinematic asymmetry parameters for classifying non-lame and lame conditions, may provide informative, preliminary insights into whether sEMG can be used to accurately detect lameness at a neuromuscular level. Based on findings from the aforementioned studies ( 17 , 18 ), we propose that ARV may offer a clinically feasible sEMG parameter for measuring the absolute activity within an individual muscle (sEMGabs) ( 17 , 18 ). Further, in keeping with kinematic asymmetry parameters, ARV may also offer a measure of muscle asymmetry, when the difference in bilateral ARVs is calculated within a stride (sEMGasym).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Classification performance of sEMG and kinematic parameters for distinguishing between non-lame and induced lameness conditions in horses

St. George,

Spoormakers,

Hobbs

et al. 2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Despite its proven research applications, it remains unknown whether surface electromyography (sEMG) can be used clinically to discriminate non-lame from lame conditions in horses. This study compared the classification performance of sEMG absolute value (sEMGabs) and asymmetry (sEMGasym) parameters, alongside validated kinematic upper-body asymmetry parameters, for distinguishing non-lame from induced fore- (iFL) and hindlimb (iHL) lameness. Bilateral sEMG and 3D-kinematic data were collected from clinically non-lame horses (n = 8) during in-hand trot. iFL and iHL (2–3/5 AAEP) were induced on separate days using a modified horseshoe, with baseline data initially collected each day. sEMG signals were DC-offset removed, high-pass filtered (40 Hz), and full-wave rectified. Normalized, average rectified value (ARV) was calculated for each muscle and stride (sEMGabs), with the difference between right and left-side ARV representing sEMGasym. Asymmetry parameters (MinDiff, MaxDiff, Hip Hike) were calculated from poll, withers, and pelvis vertical displacement. Receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) analysis determined the accuracy of each parameter for distinguishing baseline from iFL or iHL. Both sEMG parameters performed better for detecting iHL (0.97 ≥ AUC ≥ 0.48) compared to iFL (0.77 ≥ AUC ≥ 0.49). sEMGabs performed better (0.97 ≥ AUC ≥ 0.49) than sEMGasym (0.76 ≥ AUC ≥ 0.48) for detecting both iFL and iHL. Like previous studies, MinDiff Poll and Pelvis asymmetry parameters (MinDiff, MaxDiff, Hip Hike) demonstrated excellent discrimination for iFL and iHL, respectively (AUC > 0.95). Findings support future development of multivariate lameness-detection approaches that combine kinematics and sEMG. This may provide a more comprehensive approach to diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of equine lameness, by measuring the underlying functional cause(s) at a neuromuscular level.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Classification performance of sEMG and kinematic parameters for distinguishing between non-lame and induced lameness conditions in horses

St. George,

Spoormakers,

Hobbs

et al. 2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Back motion in unridden horses in walk, trot and canter on a circle

2023

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Equine back function is of concern to riders, as well as to veterinarians and physiotherapists; these groups may benefit from knowledge about spinal motion on the circle. This descriptive and comparative study aimed to quantify equine neck, back and pelvic motion in walk, trot and canter on a 9 m circle. Sixteen healthy horses in training, of varying breed and conformation, were measured using optical motion capture (150 Hz), with optical markers on the poll, withers, T15, tubera coxae and lumbosacral joint. Cervicothoracic and thoracolumbar flexion–extension and lateral bending, and pelvic roll, pitch and yaw, were statistically evaluated using mixed models. Motion patterns showed distinct differences between gaits, but were generally similar between horses. The thoracolumbar back was bent towards the inside of the circle (stride mean 5-6º for all gaits). The cervicothoracic spine was more flexed in walk (18°), and more extended in canter (-4—-8°), compared to trot (6–7°), whereas the thoracolumbar spine was slightly less extended in canter than in walk. Thoracolumbar flexion–extension range of motion (ROM) increased from walk (4°) to canter (9°), as did pelvic pitch ROM (walk 7° and canter 15–16°), while back lateral bending ROM and pelvic yaw ROM were lowest in trot. Taken together, the study findings suggest that neck and back motion patterns on the circle reflect an interaction between the constraints of circular movement, and the mechanics and characteristics of each gait.

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Normal variation in pelvic roll motion pattern during straight-line trot in hand in warmblood horses

Byström,

Hardeman,

Engell

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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In horses, hip hike asymmetry, i.e. left–right difference in hip upwards movement during hind limb protraction in trot, is a crucial lameness sign. Vertical hip movements are complex, influenced by both pelvic roll and pelvic vertical motion. Veterinarians find it challenging to identify low-grade lameness, and knowledge of normal variation is a prerequisite for discerning abnormalities. This study, which included 100 clinically sound Warmblood horses, aimed to describe normal variation in pelvic roll stride patterns. Data were collected during straight-line trot in hand using optical motion capture. Stride-segmented pelvic roll data, normalised with respect to time (0–100% of the stride) and amplitude (± 0.5 of horse average stride range of motion), were modelled as a linear combination of sine and cosine curves. A sine curve with one period per stride and a cosine curve with three periods per stride explained the largest proportions of roll motion: model estimate 0.335 (p < 0.01) and 0.138 (p < 0.01), respectively. Using finite mixture models, the horses could be separated into three groups sharing common pelvic roll characteristics. In conclusion, pelvic roll motion in trot follows a similar basic pattern in most horses, yet there is significant individual variation in the relative prominence of the most characteristic features.

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Adaptations in equine axial movement and muscle activity occur during induced fore‐ and hindlimb lameness: A kinematic and electromyographic evaluation during in‐hand trot

Cited by 7 publications

References 49 publications

Classification performance of sEMG and kinematic parameters for distinguishing between non-lame and induced lameness conditions in horses

Classification performance of sEMG and kinematic parameters for distinguishing between non-lame and induced lameness conditions in horses

Back motion in unridden horses in walk, trot and canter on a circle

Normal variation in pelvic roll motion pattern during straight-line trot in hand in warmblood horses

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