Análisis de la marcha del caballo: técnicas subjetivas versus técnicas objetivas

Resum

Alterations of gait in the horse are common in the practice of equine veterinary medicine and their causes are varied, having a considerable negative effect on the performance of the horse and the horse's ability to participate in training and competitions, causing great waste of time and money. These alterations are manifested in the form of lameness, asymmetries, incoordination or ataxia, and also in variable degree, being able imperceptible and not being to be diagnosed through routine clinical examination. Veterinarians dedicated to equines face a great challenge when they must identify and diagnose one of these alterations. They having to do it in an early, fast and precise way to reduce the losses already mentioned, and for this they have several techniques of analysis of the march. These techniques vary in accuracy and reliability, according to the experience and the knowledge of the clinician, and the technique used, giving a subjective or objective character to the obtained result. Subjective gait analysis techniques are based on traditional clinical examination through visual perception and observation. Objective techniques are based on the analysis of movement through the biomechanical study of locomotion, using equipment that quantify the interacting forces and acceleration produced on a body. The benefits and usefulness of each of the techniques are known, as well as their disadvantages, so their use is optional, according to the possibilities and needs that the veterinarian and the horse have. Reasons that highlight the importance of the veterinarian's knowledge about the techniques of analysis of the gait of the horse and its applicability.