NEW research has shown that equine gait analysis has many practical applications beyond lameness assessment, to help support and improve equine health and performance.

The Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) is giving equine veterinary surgeons access to the latest knowledge on equine locomotion with the online publication of a quantitative gait analysis virtual issue in October 2019. A special focus section on biomechanics is also in the pipeline for publication in November and most of the papers will be free to view.

Gait analysis has developed a lot in recent years and quantitative gait analysis involves the use of electronic sensors, enabling the assignment of numerical values to motion, with the application of kinetics and kinematics.

“We have now reached a stage in which technical developments have permitted the introduction of user-friendly quantitative gait analysis techniques in clinical practice,” says Professor René van Weeren, who jointly edited the collections with Dr. Constanza Gómez Álvarez. “Accuracy and reliability of these techniques have increased to improve our performance in the assessment and monitoring of equine locomotor performance. However, these developments also urge us to reconsider out position as clinicians and pose new challenges in terms of interpretation of the data that are generated.”

Practical uses of quantitative gait analysis are included in the substantial collection of 15 of the latest research papers. This virtual issue will be on free access for a year from October 4th, 2019.

Professor Celia Marr, editor of the EVJ said: “The breadth and substance of this research shows how far we have advanced with equine quantitative gait analysis. It has moved far beyond solely being a tool for objective lameness assessment and continues to develop as an exciting method for the support of equine welfare and performance.”