Backed up by Scientific Research
A Validated Approach
At EQUIGAIT we are proud to offer gait analysis solutions backed up by validation studies investigating accuracy and precision. Here, accuracy refers to systematic differences between measurements with our systems and 'gold standard' systems based on optical (camera-based) approaches. Precision on the other hand refers to how consistently any differences occurr for example across different (populations of) horses or different exercise conditions.
Accuracy and precision are in the order of magnitude of stride-to-stride variability of horses indicating that the systems are capable of capturing the average movement of a horse.
Better than the human eye
Visual assessment of movement deficits "by-eye" is limited by the human eye which needs spatial asymmetries to exceed 10 to 25% of the amplitude of movement. Inertial measurement accuracy (and precision) exceed the capabilities of the human eye and in addition provide quantitative unbiased measurements providing an objective record.
More than head nod and hip hike
Head nod and hip hike are two of the most important 'visual cues' for detecting and grading lameness 'by eye' when human experts are involved. EquiGait products allow quantification of advanced aspects of gait deficits:
1) withers movement allows for an in-depth analysis of compensatory movement patterns, i.e. when a four-legged animal adapts its movement pattern to avoid specific movement that are painful. Scientific studies have enhanced the understanding of these movement patterns and we have incorporated withers movement as a standard parameter in all of our systems!
2) similar to humans, there are interactions between movement deficits affecting anatomical structures located within the limbs and follow on effects affecting the back (or vice versa). Our advanced products (with 6 or 9 sensors) allow for a detailed, multi-dimensional quantification of back movement in addition to primary and compensatory movement symmetries. Our products offer unrivaled analytic power for differentiating between restrictions of limb and back movements. This is essential for maximizing evidence-based approaches for poor performance examinations or for incorporating evidence into the assessment of treatment or rehabilitation regimens. Most recently (June 2024), we have published a study into the interrelation between movement symmetry and range of motion of the back. We specifically investigated reining Quarter horses as we believe there are distinct breed and discipline-specific differences in back movement that need to be investigated further to improve our ability to develop evidence-based treatment and rehabilitation regimens for discipline-specific poor performance.
The sky is the limit! Motion quantification applied to practical questions.
The sensors used in our systems have been used in many research projects and the flexibility of our system setup is one of the strengths of our systems.
Of course, using our complete state-of-the-art solutions for lameness investigations accompanying the complex veterinary lameness exam is a natural fit!
But, don't overlook the many other applications that are now at your fingertips: long-term monitoring, horse-surface, horse-shoe-surface, horse-rider, horse-saddle-rider interaction, changes across exercises (in-hand or ridden; on the straight or on the circle).
Some Scientific Publications with EquiGait Products
https://doi.org/10.3390/s24154848
Landsbergen, K. et al. Movement symmetry and back range of motion in reining quarter horses, Journal of Equine Veterinary Rehabilitation, (2024), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eqre.2024.100011
Forbes, B. et al. Associations between Racing Thoroughbred Movement Asymmetries and Racing and Training Direction. Animals 14, 1086 (2024).
Calle-González, N. et al. Objective Assessment of Equine Locomotor Symmetry Using an Inertial Sensor System and Artificial Intelligence: A Comparative Study. Animals 14, 921 (2024).
Soiluva, J. et al. Comparison of Asymmetry During Trot In-Hand With Evaluations of Discomfort and Pain in Horses While Exercised. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 126, 104282 (2023).
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