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The interaction between equine hooves and various ground surfaces is a critical factor for injury prevention and performance in modern equestrian sports. Accurate measurement of surface grip is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of different hoof protection systems. This study introduces the Vienna Grip Tester (VGT), a novel sensor-based device developed to quantify rotational resistance—an important parameter for assessing hoof–surface interaction. The VGT utilizes a torque wrench and spring-loaded mechanism to simulate lateral hoof movements under a standardized vertical load (~700 N), enabling objective grip measurements across different conditions. Twenty combinations of hoof protection (barefoot, traditional iron shoe, and two glue-on models) and surfaces (sand, sand with fiber at 25 °C and −18 °C, frozen sand, and turf) were tested, yielding 305 torque measurements. Statistical analysis (repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni correction) revealed significant differences in grip among surface types and hoof protection systems. Frozen surfaces (SDAF (31 ± 8.9 Nm and SDF 33 ± 8.7 Nm, p < 0.001) exhibited the highest grip, while dry sand (SDA (18.3 ± 3.3 Nm, p < 0.001) showed the lowest. Glue-on shoes (glue-on grip, 26 ± 10 Nm; glue-on, 25 ± 10 Nm) consistently provided superior grip compared to traditional or unshod hooves (bare hoof, 21 ± 7 Nm). These results validate the VGT as a reliable and practical tool for measuring hoof–surface grip, with potential applications in injury prevention, hoof protection development, and surface optimization in equestrian sports.

This article investigates the determination of the optimal cutoff frequency of smoothing filters for motion data based on kinetic energy. The underlying hypothesis is that an upper limit of kinetic energy can serve as a basis for setting the cutoff frequency. To illustrate this, postural sway in standing dogs was analyzed based on the movement of their center of pressure (COP). The method was tested on 12 clinically healthy dogs that met specific inclusion criteria. The results show that a cutoff frequency of 6 Hz, derived from an individual kinetic energy calculated from the COP velocity of 5 cm/s, provides the best representation of postural sway, while 10 Hz filtered data was sufficient in only 6 of 12 dogs, and unfiltered data unsuitable in 12 of 12 dogs. The study highlights that the choice of cutoff frequency is crucial for data quality and proposes a biologically motivated method based on kinetic energy. This method could lead to more precise and meaningful results in motion analysis.

Auditory stimuli are known to induce biomechanical balance responses, influencing postural stability in humans. These responses provide valuable insights into the interaction between auditory perception and physical balance. This study investigates the effect of human voices on postural stability in dogs during static stance. Twenty-three healthy pet dogs were assessed standing on a pressure plate under three auditory conditions: happy voice, angry voice, and no sound. Five conventional Center of Pressure (COP) parameters were analyzed, mediolateral displacement, craniocaudal displacement, support surface (SS_%), average speed (AS) and statokinesiogram length. A significant main effect of condition on SS_% ( F (2) = 4.35, p = 0.019, η² p = 0.165) was found; SS_% values in the angry voice condition (mean = 0.12 ± 0.06) were significantly higher than in the no sound condition (mean = 0.08 ± 0.03; p = 0.026). A K-means cluster analysis of relative COP changes (ΔCOP_%, increase/decrease relative to the no sound condition) revealed two distinct reaction patterns within both sound conditions (ANOVA, all ΔCOP_% parameters, p < 0.01, except AS within happy condition). For happy voices, 57% of dogs exhibited increases across all ΔCOP_% parameters, while 43% showed decreases. In contrast, angry voices led to increased ΔCOP_% parameters in 30% of dogs, with 70% remaining unaffected. A significant difference in Support Surface (ΔSS_%) was found between clusters 1 for happy and angry voices (F = 8.75, p = 0.008). The largest absolute and relative ΔSS_% changes occurred in the angry voice condition. These exploratory findings suggest that the emotional arousal triggered by human voices can have both stabilizing and destabilizing effects on canine balance. Angry human voices were associated with the greatest destabilizing effect.

Texture testing is applied in various industries. Recently, a simple, accelerometer-equipped texture testing device (Surface Tester of Food Resilience; STFR) has been developed, and we elaborated formulae describing the movement of the probe. In this paper, we describe the validation of said formulae, relying on video image analysis of the travel of the spherical probe. This allowed us to select the best-fit mathematical models. We elaborated formulae for accurate calculation of specimen surface characteristics and present an application integrating these formulae in the test procedure. The impact of correct height adjustment and specimen height was found to be critical for reproducibility of measurements and thus needs attendance. These findings form the basis for future comparative studies with established texture analyzers.

Recently, an accelerometer-based device (Vienna Surface Tester (VST)) has been developed for testing the surface characteristics of floors, beddings and turf grounds. The accelerometers are placed in a sphere, which will be dropped in free fall on a test surface. By observing changes in acceleration during impact, researchers can deduce various material characteristics. A down-sized version of this device (Surface Tester of Food Resilience (STFR)) has been proposed for texture testing of foods. Whereas the movement of the VST can be described by the laws of free fall, the STFR follows a constrained circular path due to its attachment to a rod and swivel. We refined the mathematical representation of the different phases of the STFR spherical probe’s trajectory (fall, impact and rebound), and we modified the mathematical models for the STFR probe to extend the measurement range.

In humans, visual stimuli are known to elicit biomechanical balance responses, thereby influencing postural stability. These responses offer valuable insights into the relationship between visual perception and physical balance. This is the first study to examine the effect of human pictures on postural stability in dogs. Seventeen healthy pet dogs were evaluated standing on a pressure plate under three conditions: viewing happy human pictures, angry human pictures, and no-picture. Five conventional Center of Pressure (COP) parameters were analyzed; mediolateral displacement, craniocaudal displacement, support surface, average speed (AS) and statokinesiogram length. Although no significant differences in balance were found across the three conditions overall, a cluster analysis of relative COP changes (ΔCOP_%, increase/decrease relative to the no-picture condition) revealed two distinct reaction patterns within both picture conditions. For happy pictures, 35% of dogs exhibited increases across all ΔCOP_% parameters (cluster H2), while 65% showed decreases (cluster H1). Angry pictures led to increases across all ΔCOP_% parameters in 47% of dogs (cluster A2), while 53% showed decreases (cluster A1). Comparisons within clusters H1/H2 and A1/A2 revealed significant differences in ΔCOP_% parameters (ANOVA, all ΔCOP_% parameters, p  < 0.05, except AS within happy condition). No significant differences in ΔCOP_% parameters were found between clusters H1/A1 (decrease in all ΔCOP values) and between clusters H2/A2 (increase in all ΔCOP values). This exploratory study is the first to suggest that emotional human pictures evoke varied postural responses in dogs, influenced by the type of stimulus (happy or angry) and individual differences in emotional reactivity and sensory processing. Both emotions (happy, angry) resulted in increases in all ΔCOP_% parameters, interpreted as a destabilizing effect on balance, and decreases in ΔCOP_% parameters, interpreted as stabilizing effect on balance.

This study investigates the impact of visual input and aging on postural stability (PS) in dogs by analyzing center-of-pressure (COP) parameters during static posturography under sighted (EO) and blindfolded (EC) conditions. Twenty adult (<50% of fractional lifespan) and 20 senior (>75% of fractional lifespan) dogs, free from orthopedic, neurological, or visual impairments, were assessed using a pressure measurement plate. While no significant differences were found between adult and senior dogs under standard EO conditions, blindfolding revealed age-related disparities. Senior dogs exhibited significantly higher craniocaudal displacement and support surface values compared to adult dogs, indicating a greater reliance on visual input for sagittal stability. Conversely, adult dogs exhibited a reduction in postural sway during EC conditions, indicating an adaptive shift toward greater reliance on somatosensory input. These findings highlight diminished sensory integration and adaptability in senior dogs, correlating with aging-related declines in proprioception and sensory processing. This research underscores the critical role of vision in canine PS, particularly in older individuals, and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions, such as balance training, to enhance sensory integration and mitigate fall risk in aging dogs. Future studies should explore dynamic and multimodal challenges to further elucidate compensatory mechanisms.

The aim of this study was to determine whether horses exhibiting unilateral hindlimb lameness unload (rest) the lame limb more than the contralateral limb. The resting/unloading of the hindlimbs and the time spent lying down were measured using accelerometers. Ten non-lame horses and 20 lame horses were recruited for participation and monitored for 11 h overnight with accelerometers (MSR145, sampling rate: 1 Hz, and measuring range: ±15 g) attached to the lateral metatarsal and metacarpal regions of each limb. Metatarsal and metacarpal orientation were used to determine whether the limb was unloaded (rested) or loaded, respectively, or whether the horses were lying down. The relation of resting time between non-lame and lame limbs (non-lame/lame: 0.85 ± 1.2) of the lame horses differed significantly (p = 0.035) from that of the non-lame horses (right/left: 1.08 ± 0.47). Non-lame horses rested their hindlimbs evenly (left: 15 ± 10%; right: 17 ± 16%). Horses with unilateral hindlimb lameness unloaded the lame limb longer (lame limb: 61.8 ± 25.3%, non-lame limb: 38.2 ± 25.3%) than their contralateral limb. The lame horses (13 ± 11%) lay down longer (p = 0.012) than the non-lame horses (3 ± 6%). The degree of lameness determined by the participating veterinarians (Vet Score) (r = −0.691, p < 0.01) and the asymmetry evaluated by the lameness locator (ALL) (r = −0.426, p = 0.019) correlated with the resting ratio (rest time ratio). Both factors were also correlated with the time spent lying down (Vet Score (r = 0.364, p = 0.048) and the ALL (r = 0.398, p = 0.03)). The ALL and VET Score were significantly correlated (r = 0.557, p = 0.01). The results of this study provide a good baseline for future research into how individual resting patterns may help to detect pain.

Movement science investigating muscle and tendon functions during locomotion utilizes commercial ultrasound imagers built for medical applications. These limit biomechanics research due to their form factor, range of view, and spatio-temporal resolution. This review systematically investigates the technical aspects of applying ultrasound as a research tool to investigate human and animal locomotion. It provides an overview on the ultrasound systems used and of their operating parameters. We present measured fascicle velocities and discuss the results with respect to operating frame rates during recording. Furthermore, we derive why muscle and tendon functions should be recorded with a frame rate of at least 150 Hz and a range of view of 250 mm. Moreover, we analyze why and how the development of better ultrasound observation devices at the hierarchical level of muscles and tendons can support biomechanics research. Additionally, we present recent technological advances and their possible application. We provide a list of recommendations for the development of a more advanced ultrasound sensor system class targeting biomechanical applications. Looking to the future, mobile, ultrafast ultrasound hardware technologies create immense opportunities to expand the existing knowledge of human and animal movement.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Kinesio Taping on the trajectory of the forelimb and the muscle activity of the M. brachiocephalicus and the M. extensor carpi radialis in horses. 19 horses and ponies of different breeds (body weight: 496±117 kg), gender (8 mares, 10 geldings and 3 stallions) and ages (14.9±6.9 years old) were analysed without Kinesio Tape (\"no tape\"), with Kinesio Tape (muscle facilitation application on both muscles of both sides, \"with tape\") and immediately after Kinesio Taping (\"post tape\") through kinematic motion analysis and surface electromyography on a treadmill at the walk (speed: 1.5±0.1 m/s) and trot (speed: 3.1±0.3 m/s). The results of the surface electromyography (maximum muscle activity at the walk and trot) and the kinematic motion analysis (maximum stride length and maximum height of the forelimbs flight arc at the walk and trot) showed that there were no significant differences between \"no tape\", \"with tape\" and \"post tape\". To sum up, Kinesio Taping on the M. brachiocephalicus and the M. extensor carpi radialis does not affect (in a positive or negative manner) the trajectory of the forelimb or the muscle activity of the M. brachiocephalicus and the M. extensor carpi radialis in horses.