19/08/2026
🚨 New research in equine sports medicine: a multimodal approach to thoracolumbar myofascial pain in police horses
📄 Title: “A multimodal approach to equine thoracolumbar myofascial pain: integrating clinical examination, AI-based gait analysis, and the ridden horse pain ethogram”
🖋️ Authors: María Resano-Zuazu, Jorge U. Carmona and David Argüelles Capilla
📖 Published in BMC Veterinary Research (August 2026)
🔎 Why does this study matter?
Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is increasingly recognised as a potential contributor to poor performance in horses, yet its clinical and functional consequences remain poorly understood. This study takes a step towards understanding MPS from different perspectives by combining clinical palpation, AI-based gait analysis, and The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE).
The findings suggest that experienced palpation remains an important tool for identifying thoracolumbar MPS, while AI-based gait analysis and behavioural assessment should be considered complementary tools that may help us better understand the functional expression of pain.
Ultimately, this study supports a multimodal approach, integrating clinical, biomechanical, and behavioural information rather than relying on gait symmetry or behavioural signs alone.
🤝 Acknowledgements
We are deeply grateful to the Special Mounted Unit of the Spanish National Police in Madrid for their collaboration and support.
👉 Article link: https://lnkd.in/e7VdXxsC
