07/01/2022
As promised, to get 2022 into great start, I have very exciting news to share with you - we are now proud owners of “EQUIGAIT” - Objective gait analysis system, which is super useful system for evaluating gait asymmetries in horses.
The system is made up of 6 wireless motion sensors (inertial measurement units) attached to the poll, withers, back and pelvis with double sided tape. These provide very accurate measurements of their position in space which is wirelessly transmitted to a laptop in real time.
The sensors detect asymmetries in horse’s movement - giving the data on head, back and croup movement (mainly vertical displacement, but including left and right asymmetry also), and it also evaluates forces placed on each limb during weight-bearing phase and forces created by push off.
This can be very useful for:
1) Lameness evaluation - the system objectively quantifies the lameness, therefore can be very useful when doing further diagnostic work up, such as nerve blocks (especially in cases where more than one structure of the limb is injured and the horse has partial improvements to various nerve blocks - quantifying the response helps to identify the area causing most of the pain)
2) Subtle or multi limb lameness - in many of these cases horse can appear visually ‘sound’ but is already adapting to the mild lameness by changing the weight-bearing on the affected limb and/or decreasing the push off, plus shifting the weight to other limb(s). It has been scientifically proven that human eye can only reliably detect a 25% or greater asymmetry in horse’s movement, therefore many subtle lamenesses cannot be appreciated visually in the early stages, and using objective gait analysis system is the only way to evaluate these horses and treat them before the injury progresses further (and is more difficult to treat).
3) In multi-limb lameness, the system can also help distinguish ‘primary’ versus ‘compensatory’ lameness, allowing us to start blocking the correct leg (or lamer leg if there are are two or more truly lame legs).
4) It can be also used in assessment of the effectiveness of the therapies used (i.e. monitor the lameness resolution and selecting the right moment for the horse to safely return to exercise; or monitoring improvement in level of symmetry following manual therapies or rehab exercises)
5) Performance issues - many horses will exhibit ‘performance issues’, which can be shown as multitude of behavioural changes during ridden work or just when asked to do certain movements. Many of these horses have asymmetries in limb loading/push off or mild lameness (that is not visible to human eye), causing these behavioural issues and it is very important to identify these horses, so we can treat them appropriately.
6) Evaluation of ‘normal’ asymmetry - majority of horses have mild asymmetries in their movement, but increasing level of asymmetry is often seen prior to development of injuries. Equigait can be therefore used regularly to keep an eye on the asymmetries in sport horses during the competition season, and provide useful input for when manual therapies and/or rehab exercises should be used to improve the symmetry of the horse’s movement to keep them at the top of their game, and to prevent development of future injuries.
The analysis can be performed anywhere with a level surface, a minimum of 25 strides of trot are required. Generally the traces will be acquired for walk & trot on the straight line, plus trot on lunge on soft surface; but in cases where problems/asymmetries are felt by the rider mainly or only in canter, then canter traces will also be taken.
There will be introductory discounted rate in 2022 with charge only £50 per horse, with further 10% discount if 3 or more horses are seen at the same yard.
If you feel your horse would benefit from an EquiGait evaluation because of poor performance, if your horse simply ‘doesn’t feel right’, or if you just want to see how symmetrical he/she is, then get in touch! :-)
Adela x
