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A Method for Quantifying Back Flexion/Extension from Three Inertial Measurement Units Mounted on a Horse's Withers,
Chloé Hatrisse1,2,3, Claire Macaire2,4,5, Camille Hebert5
1Laboratoire de Biomécanique et Mécanique des Chocs (LBMC) UMR_T 9406, Université Gustave Eiffel, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69622 Lyon, France.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 23, 2023
Summary
Quantifying equine back mobility using inertial measurement units (IMUs) offers an accurate alternative to traditional methods. This technology provides precise measurements comparable to motion capture, aiding in objective assessments of horse well-being.
Area of Science:
- Equine biomechanics
- Veterinary diagnostics
- Wearable sensor technology
Background:
- Horse back mobility is crucial for well-being and is typically assessed visually by veterinarians.
- Objective quantification of back mobility could significantly enhance diagnostic capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy of a novel method for quantifying horse back mobility using inertial measurement units (IMUs).
- To compare IMU-based measurements against motion capture (MOCAP), the established gold standard.
Main Methods:
- Four sound horses were fitted with IMUs and reflective markers at key spinal and pelvic locations.
- Horses performed walk, trot, and gallop gaits on a soft surface.
- Flexion/extension angles of the thoracolumbar region were calculated from IMU data.
Main Results:
- The IMU method demonstrated a low mean bias of 0.8° (±1.5°) for flexion and 0.8° (±1.4°) for extension compared to MOCAP.
- The accuracy of the IMU method was found to be comparable to the MOCAP system across all gaits.
Conclusions:
- The developed IMU-based method provides accurate quantification of equine back mobility.
- This technology offers a promising, accessible tool for field measurements, potentially improving objective lameness evaluations.
