gait analysis: opening doors to understanding the gaited horse
TRANSCRIPT
GAIT ANALYSIS: OPENING DOORS TO UNDERSTANDING THE GAITED HORSE
Dr. Molly C. NicodemusGaited Locomotive Research Program
Animal & Dairy SciencesMississippi State University
Birth of Equine Gait Analysis
The American photographer Eadweard Muybridge made a p g p y gbreakthrough in 1877 when he provided photographic evidence of the existence of a suspension (airborne)
phase in the gait of the racing horsephase in the gait of the racing horse.
Budiansky, S. (1997)y ( )
Gait Differentiation through Temporal Variables
Muybridge’s research wasMuybridge s research was the most basic form of gait analysis called temporal
WalkTrot
variable measurements:• Footfall and limb support
sequences WalkTrotsequences• Timing of hoof placements
and lift-offs and limb support phasessupport phases
• Velocity• Stride length and rate
CanterGallop
Research of Intermediate Gaited GaitsHildebrand (1965) using temporal variable measurements described the gaits of the gaited horse as forming a gait
ti Th t di ti i h d th it d itcontinuum. These measurements distinguished the gaited gaits from non-gaited gaits and indicated distinction between the gaited gaits.
Similarities between Gaited Gaits:• Symmetrical y• 4-beat gait• No suspension
f f• Lateral footfall sequenceDistinguishing between Gaited
Gaits:• Rhythm: timing of hind hoof
placements
Research of Intermediate Gaited GaitsNicodemus and Clayton (2000) measured additional temporal variable measurements to distinguish between 16 intermediate
it f it d h Ti i d d ti f f tf ll d li bgaits of gaited horses. Timing and durations of footfalls and limb support phases assisted in further distinction between the gaited gaits.
Variables Distinguishing between Gaited Gaits:
• Durations: Stride and stance• Type of Rhythm: regular or
irregular w/ diagonal or lateralirregular w/ diagonal or lateral couplets
• Limb Support (timing and duration): unipedal bipedalduration): unipedal, bipedal, tripedal, and quadrupedal
Rhythm: Timing of Advanced Placements & Lift offsAdvanced Placements & Lift-offs
Gaits with a Regular Limb Placement (Breeds & Gaits): g ( )• Non-gaited breeds: Walk *^• Gaited breeds: Flat Walk *^• Paso Fino: Classic Fino *^• Paso Fino: Classic Fino • Icelandic: Toelt *^• Peruvian Paso: Paso Llano *^
S G ^• Single Footing Horse: Road Gait ^• Florida Cracker Horse: Coon Rack• Racking Horse: Style Rack ^g y• Rocky Mountain Horse: Rocky Mt. Rack• Mountain Pleasure Horse: Mt. Pleasure Rack
* Gaits with a regular limb lift-off^ Gaits with equal lateral and diagonal bipedal support
Regular Rhythm Gaits with Equal Bipedal S pport (Lateral = Diagonal)Bipedal Support (Lateral = Diagonal)
Gaits Alternating Between Tripedal & Bipedal Support:T i d l S t Bi d l S tTripedal Support > Bipedal Support• Non-gaited breeds: Walk• Gaited breeds: Flat WalkBipedal Support > Tripedal Support• Paso Fino: Classic Fino• Icelandic: ToeltIcelandic: Toelt• Peruvian Paso: Paso Llano
Presence of Unipedal Support:Presence of Unipedal Support:• Single Footing Horse: Road Gait (no period of tripedal support) *• Racking Horse: Style Rack ^
* Gaits with the majority of the stride spent in swing^ Gaits with greater hind than fore stance
Regular Rhythm Gaits with U l Bi d l S tUnequal Bipedal Support
Lateral Bipedal Support > Diagonal Bipedal Support• Florida Cracker Horse: Coon Rack
M t i Pl H Mt Pl R k• Mountain Pleasure Horse: Mt. Pleasure RackDiagonal Bipedal Support > Lateral Bipedal Support• Rocky Mountain Horse: Rocky Mt Rack• Rocky Mountain Horse: Rocky Mt. Rack
Gaits with Irregular Limb Placement
Lateral Couplets • Bashkir Curly Horse: Curly Rack• Tennessee Walking Horse: Running Walk• Peruvian Paso: SobreandandoPeruvian Paso: Sobreandando Diagonal Couplets• Missouri Fox Trotter: Fox Trot ^• Paso Fino: Paso Corto * & Paso Largo (both demonstrating• Paso Fino: Paso Corto * & Paso Largo (both demonstrating
unipedal support and longer hind than fore stance)Diagonal Couplets w/ Quadrupedal Support• Mangalarga Marchador: Marcha Batida ^• Marsh Tacky: Tacky Trot ^ (Nicodemus and Beranger 2009)
* Gaits with a regular limb lift-off^ Gait with longer diagonal than lateral bipedal support; all others have a longer lateral
Variables Influencing Gait P fPerformance
• Performance Type: Non-gaited research has reported the influence of performance type onreported the influence of performance type on variables measured in gait analysis (Clayton 1993, Cano et al. 2000 and 2003, Nicodemus and Slater 2007)V l it N it d h h t d• Velocity: Non-gaited research has reported increases in velocity at the walk and trot influencing gait variables (Nicodemus et al. 2001, Khumsap et al. 2002, Galisteo et al. 1998).
• Age: Non-gaited research has reported gait variables at a young age that are indicators for future performance (Cano et al. 1999 and 2001, Back et al. 1999))
• Weight: Non-gaited research has reported changes in gait variables associated with increasing weight on the distal limbs of the trotting horse (Wickler et al 2004)horse (Wickler et al. 2004).
Performance Type & TemporalPerformance Type & Temporal Variables in the Gaited Horse
Padded TWH: Flat & Running Walks Temporal Variables
Flat Walk Running WalkStride Duration (ms) 794 (27) 783 (21)L t l Ad Pl t (%) 21 (8) 14 (9) aLateral Adv. Placement (%) 21 (8) 14 (9) a
Diagonal Adv. Placement (%) 29 (4) 36 (4) a
Lateral Adv Lift-Off (%) 13 (8) b 14 (4) bLateral Adv. Lift-Off (%) 13 (8) 14 (4) Diagonal Adv. Lift-Off (%) 38 (8) b 36 (4) b
Fore Stance Duration (%) 36 (3) c 36 (2) c( ) ( ) ( )Hind Stance Duration (%) 54 (2) c 54 (2) c
* Similar superscripts between temporal variables within each* Similar superscripts between temporal variables within each column indicate significant differences (P<0.05).
Padded Flat & Running Walks Support Phases
Support Phases of Padded Flat and Running Walks (starting w/ right hind impact): 1) tripedal [8(2)%, 9(1)%], 2) diagonal bipedal [23(4)%, 28(7)%], 3) unipedal [28(4)%,diagonal bipedal [23(4)%, 28(7)%], 3) unipedal [28(4)%,28(3)%], and 4) lateral bipedal [40(6)%, 35(5)%]
1 2 3 4 LH LF
RH RF
Starting w/ right hind (RH) impact
Stance Phase- Swing Phase-
Starting w/ right hind (RH) impact
Plantation Pleasure: Flat & Running Walks Temporal Variables
Flat Walk Running WalkVelocity (m/s) 3.4 (0.8) 3.7 (0.4)St id D ti ( ) 759 (45) 725 (33)Stride Duration (ms) 759 (45) 725 (33)Lateral Adv. Placement (%) 20 (3) a 24 (6)Diagonal Adv Placement (%) 29 (8) a 26 (7)Diagonal Adv. Placement (%) 29 (8) 26 (7)Lateral Adv. Lift-Off (%) 10 (3) b 12 (3) b
Diagonal Adv. Lift-Off (%) 39 (6) b 37 (3) bg ( ) ( ) ( )Fore Stance Duration (%) 45 (4) c 44 (2) c
Hind Stance Duration (%) 59 (3) c 56 (6) c
* Similar superscripts between temporal variables within each column indicate significant differences (P<0.05).
Plantation Pleasure: Flat & Running Walks Support Phases
1 2 3 4LFLH1 2 3 4
RH
LFLH
Support Phases of Flat and Running Walks (starting w/ right
RH
Support Phases of Flat and Running Walks (starting w/ right hind impact): tripedal (15%, 11%), diagonal bipedal (23%, 22%), unipedal (9%, 13%), and lateral bipedal (53%, 54%)
Stance Phase: Swing Phase:
Plantation Pleasure: Canter Temporal Variables
Velocity (m/s) 3.8 (0.7)St id D ti ( ) 679 (58)Stride Duration (ms) 679 (58)Diagonal Adv. Placement (%) Adv. Lift-Off (%)TF LH 4 (2) a 7 (3) bTF-LH 4 (2) a 7 (3) b
LF-TH 36 (5) a 56 (9) b
Lateral Adv. Placement (%)Adv. Lift-Off (%)( ) ( )LH-LF 28 (7) 18 (6)TH-TF 30 (5) 21 (7)
Fore Stance (%) Hind Stance (%)Leading 40 (6) c 50 (1)Trailing 48 (4) c 53 (4)
* Similar superscripts between temporal variables within each column indicate significant differences (P<0.05).
Plantation Pleasure Canter: Asymmetrical stride with coupletsand alternating periods of diagonal bipedal (20%), tripedal g p g p ( ), p(23%), lateral bipedal (34%), and unipedal (23%) limb support.No periods of suspension.
1 2 3 4LF
TH
5 6 7 8
Stance Phase- Swing Phase-
Velocity & Temporal VariablesVelocity & Temporal Variables in the Gaited Horse
Flat Shod Running Walk Temporal VariablesVelocity Slow
(2.66+0.34 m/s)Fast
(3.80+0.18 m/s)Correlation Coefficient
StrideDuration(ms) 753+38 683+12 -0310Stride Duration (ms) 753+38 683+12 0.310Fore Stance Duration (%) 51+5a 48+1a -0.495Hind Stance Duration (%) 58+3a 56+2a -0.293Lateral Adv. Placement (%) 22+2b 12+3b -0.443
b b( )
Diagonal Adv. Placement (%) 29+2b 37+4b 0.640Lateral Adv. Lift-Off (%) 18+4c 10+2c -0.924Diagonal Adv. Lift-Off (%) 35+5c 39+2c 0.126Si l Hi dS t (%) 2 1 6 2 0250Single Hind Support (%) 2+1 6+2 0.250Diagonal Bipedal Support (%) 27+6d 16+4d -0.648Lateral Bipedal Support (%) 50+9d 67+7d 0.904Tripedal Support 2Hind(%) 16+6 12+3 0519
* Similar superscripts between temporal variables within each velocity
Tripedal Support-2 Hind (%) 16+6 12+3 -0.519Tripedal Support-2 Fore (%) 7+5 3+1 -0.332
* Similar superscripts between temporal variables within each velocity indicate significant differences (P<0.05).
Age & Temporal Variables inAge & Temporal Variables in the Gaited Horse
Temporal Variables of Flat Walking TWH FoalsTWH Foals
Stride Duration (ms) 958 (109)Fore / Hind Stance Duration (%) 68 (2) / 69 (3)Fore / Hind Stance Duration (%) 68 (2) / 69 (3)Lateral / Diagonal Adv Placement (%) 18 (4) / 29(6)Lateral / Diagonal Adv Lift-Off (%) 23 (4) / 27 (4)Lateral / Diagonal Adv Lift Off (%) 23 (4) / 27 (4)
Symmetrical stride alternating between tripedal w/2 hind limbs (33%) diagonal bipedal (9%) tripedal w/2 forelimbs (35%) and
1 2 3 4
(33%), diagonal bipedal (9%), tripedal w/2 forelimbs (35%), and lateral bipedal (23%) limb support.
LH LF
RH RF
Stance Phase- Swing Phase-
Weight & Temporal Variables inWeight & Temporal Variables in the Gaited Horse
Use of Pastern Chain WeightsUse of Pastern Chain Weights• Pastern chain weights are
applied to horse’s distal 1 5
1.55c) *ppforelimbs to increase lift and reach of the forelimbs.
• Stride duration has been 1 31.35
1.41.45
1.5
urat
ion
(sec
Trial 1Trial 2
correlated with “length” scores by horse judges.
• Use of heavy weights (10 oz or 283 ) t h i i ht
1.11.15
1.21.25
1.3
Strid
e D
u
Trial 3
283 g) pastern chain weights significantly increased stride duration at the walk, but lower weights or pastern straps did
Control Treatment
Mean stride duration (SD) for the control (pastern straps) and treatment groups (chain
eights) o er the 3 trials (T1 no t or strapweights or pastern straps did not.
• Additional changes in hoof flight arc and head
weights) over the 3 trials (T1= no wt or strap, T2= 6 oz or strap, T3= 10 oz or strap). * = significant difference (p<0.05) from Trial 1 values within each group (Nicodemus and Kelley 1995).flight arc and head
displacements were associated with heavy weights.
y )
Equine Kinematic Research
• Kinematic research measures joint angles and horizontal and vertical displacementsand horizontal and vertical displacements.
• Since the horse has evolved to primarily move in the sagittal plane the majority of
i ki ti h h bequine kinematic research has been limited to 2-D analysis.
• Majority of kinematic research has focused on the walk and trot of non-gaited breeds (European breeds, Thoroughbreds, Arabians) of limited performance typesArabians) of limited performance types (english-type).
• Measurement of normal gait kinematics has assisted to determine abnormalhas assisted to determine abnormal locomotion of non-gaited horses.
220
240
T1 Fetlock
2-D Kinematics of the Flat Walking TWH Yearling Before and After Strength Training (Holt 2005, Nicodemus and Holt 2006)
180
200
220
T1 Carpus
T1 Fetlock
T2 Fetlock
140
160
180
e (D
egre
es)
T1 Elbow
T2 Carpus
T2 Elbow
100
120
140
Join
t Ang
le
T1 Shoulder
Extension
T2 Elbow
60
80
100
Flexion
T2 Shoulder
1 20 40 60 80 100
% of Stride
Flat walking forelimb joint means for the TWH yearlings before (T1, black lines) and after (T2, red lines) the strength training regime. The black, solid vertical line indicates hoof lift off and the start of swing phase (59% of stride).
240
Extension
200
220
240
FlexionT1 Fetlock
T2 Fetlock
140
160
180
le (D
egre
es)
T1 Tarsus
T1 StifleT2 Tarsus
100
120
140
Join
t Ang
l
T1 Hip
T2 Stifle
T2 Tarsus
60
80
1 20 40 60 80 100
T2 Hip
% of Stride
Flat walking hind limb joint means for the TWH yearlings before (T1 black lines)Flat walking hind limb joint means for the TWH yearlings before (T1, black lines) and after (T2, red lines) the strength training regime. The black, solid vertical line indicates hoof lift off and the start of swing phase (59% of stride).
3-D Gait Analysis of the Gaited Horse
• Three-Dimensional kinematic l i tifi j i t tianalysis quantifies joint motion
outside of the sagittal plane. • This research has just recently j ybegun for non-gaited horses and is very limited due to the complicated methodologycomplicated methodology requiring unique expertise, expensive equipment, and l th tlengthy set-up.
• Motion outside of the sagittal plane has significant clinical
Peruvian Paso:“Termino” in the
Forelimbsgapplications.
Stance Phase Swing Phaseg
60
80
e (d
eg)
40
60Extension (+)
External
nt A
ngle
0
20Abduction (+)
ExternalRotation (+)
Join
40
-200 20 40 60 80 100
InternalRotation (-)
Adduction (-)
P i P W lk F tl k fl i / t i-60
-40
% StrideFlexion (-)
Adduction ( )
Peruvian Paso Walk: Fetlock flexion/extension, adduction/abduction, and internal/external rotation
(Nicodemus et al. 2008)
Stance Phase Swing Phaseg
20
40
Extension (+)Abduction (+)
ExternalRotation (+)
e (d
eg)
0
20
0 20 40 60 80 100
Extension (+)
nt A
ngle
-40
-200 20 40 60 80 100
InternalRotation (-)
Join
80
-60
-100
-80
% Stride
Flexion (-)55%
Peruvian Paso Walk: Carpal flexion/extension, adduction/abduction, and internal/external rotation
Equine Biodynamics Researchq y• Kinematics: Computer analysis of video to
determine joint angles and joint and limb j g jdisplacements.
• Kinetics: Force plates to measure vertical and hori ontal gro nd reaction forcesand horizontal ground reaction forces occurring on the limbs.
• Combining Kinematics & Kinetics: gCalculations to determine net joint moments (torque) and power (generation and absorption)and absorption).
• Research available for the trot and walk of non-gaited horses. Applications of this type of research are to determine how the gait is produced and clinical implications.
Missouri Fox Trotter Forelimb Vertical Reaction Forces
15
10
eact
ion
N/K
g)
5
ertic
al R
eFo
rces
(
00 20 40 60 80 100
Ve
%Stance
Walk Fox Trot
Results: Fox trot had a similar pattern as the walk with > forces, but < than the non-gaited trot (Nicodemus and Slater 2007).
Missouri Fox Trotter Forelimb Cranio-Caudal Reaction Forces
2Propulsion
1
2
udal
or
ces
)
-1
00 20 40 60 80 100
Cra
nio-
Ca
eact
ion
Fo(N
/Kg)
-2
1
%Stance
C Re
%
Walk Fox TrotBreaking
Results: Fox trot had similar pattern as the walk with < forces than the non-gaited trot and longer breaking forces.
Missouri Fox Trotter Forelimb F tl k J i t M tFetlock Joint Moments
0.8 Plantar
0.4
0.6
omen
t K
g)
0 2
0
0.2
0 20 40 60 80 100Join
t Mo
(N*m
/K
-0.4
-0.2
%Stance Dorsal
Walk Fox Trot
Dorsal
Results: Fox trot had longer dorsal (towards the horse’s back) and g ( )later plantar (part of the lower limb facing forward) moments than the walk, but < plantar moment than the non-gaited trot.
Missouri Fox Trotter Forelimb F tl k J i t PFetlock Joint Power
2Generation
0.5
1
1.5
r (W
/Kg)
-0.5
0
0.5
0 20 40 60 80 100
oint
Pow
e
-1.5
-1
%Stance
Jo
Absorption
Walk Fox Trot
Results: Fox Trot had net joint powers < than the non-gaited trot. Peak absorption coincides with footfalls.
New Doors to OpenNew Doors to Open• While gait analysis research has assisted in
defining many aspects of the equine gaitdefining many aspects of the equine gait, further development of gait analysis techniques to make this analysis more
ti l f li i l li ti i d dpractical for clinical applications is needed.• Taking gait research to the next level beyond
just defining the gaits to further analysis of j g g ythe production of gaits including muscular activity (EMG), ground reaction forces, net joint moments and powers and gaitjoint moments and powers, and gait energetics.
• Limitation to opening new doors is the lack of research funding and the participation of individuals involved in the horse industry.