• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Virginia Tech equine medical center offers new gait-analysis system

May 1, 2007

The technology will help many patients, but will be of particular benefit to athletic horses.

LEESBURG, VA. — A new high-speed digital video system that will allow for detailed gait analysis, lameness diagnosis and hoof balancing in horses is expected to go into operation this month at Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center.

Unlike most video cameras, which could only capture horses in motion at 30 frames per second, the new technology can film at 60 frames per second in high definition, permitting the center's specialists to clearly view foot landing, breakover and arc of the foot, and limb flight.

Using an equine treadmill that offers graded exercise in a controlled environment, a horse's gait can be captured at both varying and consistent speeds. The footage can then be frozen in still frames or played in slow motion, allowing for precision viewing of movements.

Treadmill and imaging devices are in use at other university equine hospitals, but this is believed to be the first one that provides high-resolution digital imaging and the ability to freeze frames for viewing.

Advertisement

The $300,000 system underwent testing at the center since last October. Horses from the nearby Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Foundation in Leesburg, Va., a nonprofit organization that provides horseback riding and related activities for therapeutic purposes for children and adults with disabilities, participated in the testing.

"We are thrilled by the possibilities offered by this new technology," says Dr. Nat White, Jean Ellen Shehan Professor and director of the equine medical center. "The benefits of slowing or freezing high-quality digital images of a horse at full gallop are endless."

According to Dr. Curry Keoughan, DVM, Dipl.ACVS, clinical assistant professor in equine lameness and surgery, using video technology rather than analog film also may result in enhanced performance through more accurate therapeutic shoeing.

"Previous gait-analysis systems were based on computer images that were sometimes misleading," Keoughan says. "This system will enable us to optimize hoof balance and comfort, leading to heightened performance and success."

Keoughan notes the new technology will be of particular benefit for athletic horses. "To improve productivity by even half a percent in a race horse is very significant," he says.

The center is a full-service equine hospital owned by Virginia Tech and operated as one of three campuses that comprise the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

Right in step: A horse undergoes gait analysis during testing of a new digital-imaging system at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Virginia.

Related Content:

MedicalEquine
Traditional and holistic treatments for giardia
Traditional and holistic treatments for giardia
3 Must-reads for National Poison Prevention Week
3 Must-reads for National Poison Prevention Week
UC Davis study on eye diseases in kittens
UC Davis study on eye diseases in kittens

Advertisement

Latest News

Pet Advocacy Network honors outstanding contributions to the pet care community

Traditional and holistic treatments for giardia

ASU trustees approve the creation of a new veterinary school

6 tips for first-time dog owners

View More Latest News
Advertisement