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Kinematic and Surface Electromyographic (sEMG) Study of the Equine Back and Hind Limbs

Reasons to Perform the Study

Sufficient scientific literature exists about the kinematic evaluation of lame horses and the sEMG of sound horses but no integrated attempt has been made to study the muscle use pattern of lame horses and the associated kinematic events.

So this project is designed to understand the mechanisms of muscle use in horses of 3 categories.

  1. Sound Horses
  2. Chronically lame horses
  3. Stringhalt horses

The idea is not only to verify the sensitivity of sEMG to variations of muscle use but also to relate the electromyographic and kinematic events.

Plan of the Project

The practical part of the project is planned to be completed in 2 steps:

  1. Determination of surface electrode position for the selected muscles (Longissimus dorsi, Biceps femoris, Gluteus medius, Semitendinosus, Extensor digitorum longus).
    This part of the project has already been completed and presented.
  2. Measurement of the horses in walk and trot.
    Surface electromyographic and kinematic data will be collected from the horses, and will further be analyzed to relate the two events.

For kinematics, a set of 18 reflective markers will be attached to spine, hind limbs and hooves of the horses.

Part of the data from chronically lame horses has already been presented internationally.

Supervisors

  • O.Univ.Prof. Dr. Christian Stanek
  • A.Univ.Prof. Dr. Theresia Licka
  • A.Univ.Prof. Dr. Christian Peham

Students

  • Hafsa Zaneb
  • Verena Kaufmann

Status

Data Acquisition Completed

Presentations

Some results from the project have been presented/accepted in the following scientific meetings:

  1. European Workshop on Movement Science (EWOMS 2007), Amsterdam, Netherlands
  2. EMG Meeting 2007, Vienna, Austria
  3. Veterinary European Equine Meeting of the Year 2008 (SIVE 2008), Venice, Italy
  4. 10th WEVA Congress (WEVA 2008), Moscow, Russia