A new possibility in equine orthopedics
There are many different reasons why a horse is presented to Tierklinik Lüsche for a veterinary check-up. The owner might see signs that the horse is lame or not performing at its best, whether it’s a leg or a top line problem. Owners also come in when a horse is about to be sold and the buyer wants a record that the horse is sound and physically working as it should.
As a part of the evaluation the clinician visually asses the movement pattern of the horse during trot. This is done in order to find or exclude the evidence of weight bearing lameness (not wanted to carry weight on a leg). Some asymmetries in the trunk and head movement of the horse during trot are directly related to this type of lameness.
After the complete assessment of the horse, flexion tests and diagnostic blocks can also be analyzed with our system. Diagnostic imaging and treatment will be the next steps.
Usually the horse returns for a reassessment. Asymmetries during rot are studied and compared to pre-treatment results in order to discern if the treatment had the desired effect. In this way, every subjective measurement (by the veterinarian) is combined with an objective measurement by the system. This makes it much easier to compare trials of a horse over time.
Equine Motion Capture gives us the possibility to acquire an objective analysis of the motion of the horse: front legs, hind legs, and neck/back and pelvic movements. The system does not only point out the lame leg, it also provides us the kind of lameness (push off or impact). For top line problems, it gives information about the range of motion in the neck, back and pelvis.
Dr. Jan-Hein Swagemakers