Validation of a novel clinical tool for monitoring distal limb stiffness
ObjectiveTo validate a novel technique to measure limb stiffness in a clinical setting.AnimalsThree horses and three ponies owned by the Royal Veterinary College.ProceduresLimb stiffness indices for both forelimbs were first derived using the gold standard of kinematic analysis. Using the same anima...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1271036/full |
| _version_ | 1797365501018505216 |
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| author | Benjamin D. Jacklin Katherine Hanousek Sabrina Gillespie Anna Liedtke Rachel Tucker Andrew Fiske-Jackson Roger K. Smith |
| author_facet | Benjamin D. Jacklin Katherine Hanousek Sabrina Gillespie Anna Liedtke Rachel Tucker Andrew Fiske-Jackson Roger K. Smith |
| author_sort | Benjamin D. Jacklin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveTo validate a novel technique to measure limb stiffness in a clinical setting.AnimalsThree horses and three ponies owned by the Royal Veterinary College.ProceduresLimb stiffness indices for both forelimbs were first derived using the gold standard of kinematic analysis. Using the same animals, limb stiffness indices were then calculated using portable floor scales to record weight and an electrogoniometer to record changes in metacarpophalangeal joint angle. The two techniques were then assessed for correlation and repeatability.ResultsThe repeatability of limb stiffness measurement using the novel clinical tool was considered to be good based on a small coefficient of variation (5.70%). The correlation of limb stiffness as derived by both methods was high (r = 0.78, p < 0.01). Limb stiffness was positively correlated with the mass of the subject (r = 0.85, p < 0.01), with heavier horses having greater limb stiffness.Clinical relevanceThis study has compared a novel method to measure distal forelimb stiffness non-invasively in a clinical setting to kinematic analysis in six equids. It has demonstrated that limb stiffness increases in a linear fashion with body mass consistent with the role of forelimbs providing energy storage. Because in vivo limb stiffness has been shown previously to alter with injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon, it is hypothesized that this technique will offer a practical technique for the clinician to assess limb stiffness in clinical cases. Further study will be necessary to determine its clinical usefulness in such cases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:50:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3e73dae7a0ce4b17866385b5dae6ddc1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:50:53Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e73dae7a0ce4b17866385b5dae6ddc12024-01-05T04:41:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692024-01-011010.3389/fvets.2023.12710361271036Validation of a novel clinical tool for monitoring distal limb stiffnessBenjamin D. Jacklin0Katherine Hanousek1Sabrina Gillespie2Anna Liedtke3Rachel Tucker4Andrew Fiske-Jackson5Roger K. Smith6CVS Group Plc, Suffolk, United KingdomEquine Referral Hospital, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United KingdomEquine Referral Hospital, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United KingdomEquine Referral Hospital, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United KingdomLiphook Equine Hospital, Hampshire, United KingdomEquine Referral Hospital, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United KingdomEquine Referral Hospital, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United KingdomObjectiveTo validate a novel technique to measure limb stiffness in a clinical setting.AnimalsThree horses and three ponies owned by the Royal Veterinary College.ProceduresLimb stiffness indices for both forelimbs were first derived using the gold standard of kinematic analysis. Using the same animals, limb stiffness indices were then calculated using portable floor scales to record weight and an electrogoniometer to record changes in metacarpophalangeal joint angle. The two techniques were then assessed for correlation and repeatability.ResultsThe repeatability of limb stiffness measurement using the novel clinical tool was considered to be good based on a small coefficient of variation (5.70%). The correlation of limb stiffness as derived by both methods was high (r = 0.78, p < 0.01). Limb stiffness was positively correlated with the mass of the subject (r = 0.85, p < 0.01), with heavier horses having greater limb stiffness.Clinical relevanceThis study has compared a novel method to measure distal forelimb stiffness non-invasively in a clinical setting to kinematic analysis in six equids. It has demonstrated that limb stiffness increases in a linear fashion with body mass consistent with the role of forelimbs providing energy storage. Because in vivo limb stiffness has been shown previously to alter with injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon, it is hypothesized that this technique will offer a practical technique for the clinician to assess limb stiffness in clinical cases. Further study will be necessary to determine its clinical usefulness in such cases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1271036/fulltendontendinopathytendinitisgoniometerracehorse |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin D. Jacklin Katherine Hanousek Sabrina Gillespie Anna Liedtke Rachel Tucker Andrew Fiske-Jackson Roger K. Smith Validation of a novel clinical tool for monitoring distal limb stiffness Frontiers in Veterinary Science tendon tendinopathy tendinitis goniometer racehorse |
| title | Validation of a novel clinical tool for monitoring distal limb stiffness |
| title_full | Validation of a novel clinical tool for monitoring distal limb stiffness |
| title_fullStr | Validation of a novel clinical tool for monitoring distal limb stiffness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Validation of a novel clinical tool for monitoring distal limb stiffness |
| title_short | Validation of a novel clinical tool for monitoring distal limb stiffness |
| title_sort | validation of a novel clinical tool for monitoring distal limb stiffness |
| topic | tendon tendinopathy tendinitis goniometer racehorse |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1271036/full |
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