Computer-assisted kinematic evaluation of induced compensatory movements resembling lameness in horses trotting on a treadmill

Abstract

Induced lameness in a hind limb causes prominent compensatory movements resembling lameness in the ipsilateral forelimb. Induced lameness in a forelimb causes slight compensatory movements resembling lameness in the ipsilateral and contralateral hind limbs.

Adaptation Strategies of Horses with Lameness

“…In moderate and more accentuated hind limb lamenesses, a distinct head nod can be observed during the diagonal stance, which includes the lame hind limb, suggesting a lameness in the ipsilateral forelimb [20,25,26]. This compensatory head movement is reported to be more distinguishable than the compensatory movements made by the hindquarters as a consequence of forelimb lameness [16,27,28].…”

“…This compensatory head movement is reported to be more distinguishable than the compensatory movements made by the hindquarters as a consequence of forelimb lameness [16,27,28]. The transmission of a forelimb lameness may occur ipsilaterally or along the diagonal [16,26,27]. Back pain may also alter the movement of the limbs.…”

Circumferential hoof clamp method of lameness induction in the horse

“…more turns of the nut were needed) during subsequent inductions to produce the same grade of lameness as when the clamps were new. The change may be due to the inherent ductility of the metal clamps instead of a structural or tolerance change in the horses, as was suspected in some frogpressure studies in which lameness tended to decrease over time during data collection (Keegan et al, 2000;Kelmer et al, 2005) or where more pressure was required during second trials of solar pressure models to achieve similar lameness (Schumacher et al, 2000). In our study, once lameness was induced it appeared to be maintained consistently throughout the 30 min of assessment.…”

“…For instance, the frog-pressure method, when used on trotting horses, has been shown to produce an inconsistent lameness pattern over time (Keegan et al, 2000;Kelmer et al, 2005). In addition, residual lameness has been reported with the solar pressure technique, with most being in studies where the nuts and screws are placed closer to the toe than the quarter (Deuel et al, 1995;Schumacher et al, 2000Schumacher et al, , 2001aSchumacher et al, , 2001b.…”

Three-dimensional kinematic analysis of head and limb movements of lame and non-lame colts

“…In this study, the method utilized for the induction of lameness in the different gaits had the advantage of being transitory and not invasive and not resulting in sequelae in the animals 16,17 . It is very common during the clinical examination of a lame animal to take into consideration the moment at which the head is in the highest position to identify the lame limb, regardless of whether lameness is in a forelimb or hind limb 18,19 . Concordantly, the videographic analyses obtained in this study also demonstrated that the highest positioning of head was coincident with the moment the lame limb first contacts the ground.…”