An investigation into the efficacy of kinematics and kinetics method for stride-characteristic measurements of horses trotting on a treadmill

The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of stride characteristic measurements taken from the sternum by means of an Optical Motion Capture System (OMCS) and an Inertia Measurement Unit (IMU), in comparison with OMCS hoof markers. Measurements were taken from sound horses of a range of breeds, trotting at self-selected speeds on a treadmill (OMCS N=15; IMU N=4). Hoof marker trajectories were compared in terms of dorsoventral position (pZ), craniocaudal velocity (vX) and dorsoventral velocity (vZ). Contra-laterally coupled limbs were compared at beginning and end of stance according to vX. A Girth Marker (GM) placed over the sternum was used to identify beginning and end of stance of each diagonal using dorsoventral acceleration (aZ) and dorsoventral velocity (vZ) respectively. These were compared with hoof marker vX. GM aZ and vZ were then validated against the same measurements taken by an IMU measuring at the same time from the same location. No significant difference (p < 0.05) was found by ANOVA between hoof marker trajectories pZ, vX or vZ at beginning or end of stance. No significant difference was found by t-test or ICC between contralaterally coupled limbs at beginning or end of stance. GM aZ and vZ could be used to identify beginning and end of stance for each diagonal without significant difference from hoof vX timings according to t-test and ICC. OMCS GM and IMU did not differ in terms of velocity (peak or trough timing or amplitude, or absolute difference: peak minus trough), or acceleration peak timing, trough timing or trough amplitude according to t-test or ICC. However, OMCS GM and IMU differed significantly in terms of acceleration peak amplitude (p = .01, ICC = 0.46) and absolute difference (p = .04, ICC = 0.66). The sternum can be used as a site to collect data providing accurate information on beginning or end of stance of horses with no advanced placement of contralaterally coupled limbs, whilst trotting at self selected speeds on a treadmill. Temporal acceleration data, and temporal or amplitudal velocity data are sufficient to identify beginning and end of stance from the sternum using an IMU. Amplitudal acceleration data from an IMU should be further investigated before assumed valid under these conditions.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Bathe, B

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/items/ee0ee514-9b01-4da0-adf7-02990cc902ba/1/

OAI identifier oai:identifier

tle:ee0ee514-9b01-4da0-adf7-02990cc902ba:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1