HESTEFORSK: Bakbenshälta hos häst - varför är den så svår att se och hur kan vi bli bättre? H-17-47-304

Wp1- Exploring variations in the normal movement of the hind quarters of horses: Breed, individual and speed dependent pelvic movement patterns at the trot: Analysis of normal data from 100 clinically sound Warmblood riding horses are done and final writing of manuscript is underway. We have explored new approaches to the analysis of gait pattern signals using finite mixture modelling. The results show three clusters with specific pelvic roll characteristics. We have also looked at Shetland ponies to contrast this data. Data from Coldblooded and warmblood trotters have been collected and analyses are ongoing. An abstract on the normal pelvic roll pattern is presented at the "International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology" (ICEEP) June 2022. WP2- Hind quarter movement pattern changes in horses in response to two methods of induced lameness: Experimental data have been collected. Analysis of LPS inductions (lameness induced by intra-articular administration of an inflammatory agent, LPS) are ongoing. The induction methods were successful but the degree of lameness was very varying between the two methods and between different individuals. Analysis of the data is in progress, but are more difficult to compare than expected. WP3- Movement changes in horses with clinical hindlimb lameness and association of 3D pelvic motion components to specific orthopaedic diagnoses: A manuscript is going through final processing before submission. An abstract "Changes in pelvic axial rotation following diagnostic analgesia in hindlimb lame horses" is presented at the "International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology" (ICEEP) in June 2022. WP4- Exploration of efficacy of tools for learning in lameness evaluation and creation of a web based pedagogical training system for lameness detection for veterinarians and horse owners: Videos and a pedagogical training system (Ped-tool) for lameness detection have been developed and tested by 80 coaches. Data from the study have been analyzed and compiled. The article is being written. An abstract "Trainer detection of hindlimb lameness in sport horses -evaluation of feedback during web based training" is presented at the "International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology" (ICEEP) in June 2022.

We now know more about how lame horses move: The results from this project have provided new information to veterinary science about how horses alter their gait pattern in response to a painful process in a hind limb. We have found that the pelvic axial rotation (the roll of the pelvis) as well as the pitch are important factors to consider when lameness is assessed both visually and through objective diagnostic gait analysis. This means veterinarians can provide a better clinical investigation to help horses with hindlimb lameness. Changes are implemented into clinical gait analysis tools: Our findings have already led to changes in how three available clinical gait analysis products make it possible to record, process and present data to the veterinarian during lameness assessment. The rotations of the pelvis can be measured and presented to the clinician in order to provide additional information. This provides a better and more complete image of the lameness associated gait pattern in the equine patient, and hence opens up for a more sensitive clinical assessment. Lameness detection is difficult also for riding instructors and trainers: We have identified the need to provide learning opportunities to riders and trainers in order to detect lameness at an early stage. We found that the current level of detection capacity does not ensure that horses with lameness are identified in time and sent to the vet. We believe that awareness is an important point for the equine industry to continue to address in the future. Both awareness of the extent of lameness in the horse population as well as of the difficult for the human visual system to detect it. Lameness detection in students and trainers can improve through training: We have discovered that it is possible to improve visual lameness assessment capacity in equestrian trainers and riding instructors and that slow motion video is the most efficient feed-back method in the learning setting we have tested. Following horses’ individual gait patterns over time seems important: Since we have found that the pelvic motion pattern is of importance in the detection of lameness and that the pelvic pattern has a strong individual “finger print” in each horse (also within breed), this has led us to conclude that gait monitoring over time should include analysis of the pelvic rotations. With this new knowledge we believe that a better distinction between what is a relevant change in the motion pattern and not.

Att korrekt bedöma bakbenshältor på hästar är svårt, även för de flesta erfarna veterinärer. Det leder till utbredda problem med felaktiga diagnoser och misslyckade behandlingsinsatser. Detta i sin tur skapar onödigt lidande för hästarna och dyra utredningskostnader för djurägare och försäkringsbolag. Projektets syfte är att förbättra både den subjektiva visuella bedömningen och objektiva mätmetoder för att detektera bakbenshältor och förfina diagnostiken genom att t.e.x. detektera specifika rörelsemönster kopplade till vissa skadetyper. Projektet är ett samverkansprojekt mellan universitet och kliniker på SLU i Uppsala och NMBU i Oslo som utförs i samarbete med the Royal Veterinary College i London och Utrech Universitet, där kompetens inom klinisk kirurgi, biomekanik, ortopedi och pedagogik samlas för att ta fram kliniska verktyg för subjektiv och objektiv hältanalys och utbildningsmaterial som ska leda till en nödvändig förbättring av diagnostiken.