In-shoe foot force sensor to assess hoof balance determined by radiographic method in ponies trotting on a treadmill.
Adaptation of an in-foot shoe force sensor and the gait analysis system 'Fscan' makes it possible to monitor the distribution of the vertical forces under the equine foot in motion. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of two different trimmings on forces under the foot during the trot. The first one increased the height of the lateral hoof wall and the second one restored the mediolateral balance of the foot. These two trimmings were examined by using a radiographical method that quantifies the interphalangeal articular asymmetries due to asymmetrical bearing. The location of the centre of force of the weight-bearing foot and the distribution of the forces applied to the lateral and medial solar surfaces during a stride were analyzed. After optimal trimming, the centre of force of the weight-bearing foot tended to approach the centre of the palmar figure, perpendicular to the distal interphalangeal joint centre. The sum of the forces recorded under the lateral and medial parts respectively of the foot during one stride tended to balance out after corrective trimming.
Caudron
I
I
Department of General Anesthesiology and Large Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Sart Tilman, Belgium.
Grulke
S
S
Farnir
F
F
Vanschepdael
P
P
Serteyn
D
D
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005684:Gait; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D006736:Horses; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011859:Radiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016474:Weight-Bearing