Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Vet J. 2010 Mar;183(3):305-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.12.012. Epub 2009 Feb 13.
Subtle lameness in horses may be difficult to diagnose and methods to evaluate lameness objectively are useful when equine clinicians fail to reach a consensus. The aim of this study was to determine whether equine pressure plate measurements are repeatable when used to calculate forelimb loading (peak vertical pressure [PVP], peak vertical force [PVF], vertical impulse [VI]) and symmetry ratios, and to establish if these data are similar to the 'gold standard' force plate values. Since plate dimensions are relatively small, ponies were used to enable recordings to be taken from both forelimbs in one trial. Five sound ponies were walked and trotted over a pressure plate which was embedded in a custom-made runway. For each pony, five valid trials were recorded during two different days. A trial was considered valid if complete prints of both fore hooves were recorded consecutively and if velocity was within a preset range. The PVP, PVF and VI values showed an acceptable variability (CV < or = 16%), with PVF (130% of bodyweight [BW], n=5) similar to previously reported force plate data (128% BW, n=48). Mean symmetry ratios appeared to be high (> 95%) and showed a low variability (CV < 5%). The stand-alone pressure plate permitted adequate registration of forelimb PVF, VI and limb symmetry with a high level of precision in sound ponies.
马的细微跛行可能难以诊断，当马科临床医生无法达成共识时，客观评估跛行的方法很有用。本研究的目的是确定当用于计算前肢负重（垂直压力峰值[PVP]、垂直力峰值[PVF]、垂直冲击力[VI]）和对称比时，马压力板测量是否具有可重复性，并确定这些数据是否与“金标准”测力板值相似。由于板的尺寸相对较小，因此使用小型马以便在一次试验中能够从前肢两侧进行记录。五匹健康的小马在嵌入定制跑道的压力板上行走和小跑。对于每匹马，在两天中的五个不同日子记录五个有效的试验。如果连续记录到两个前蹄的完整印迹，并且速度在预设范围内，则认为试验是有效的。PVP、PVF 和 VI 值显示出可接受的可变性（CV<16%），PVF（130%的体重[BW]，n=5）与之前报道的测力板数据（128% BW，n=48）相似。平均对称比似乎很高（>95%），且具有低可变性（CV<5%）。独立的压力板可以在健康的小马中充分记录前肢 PVF、VI 和肢体对称性，并具有高精度。
