42 June 2015 • USDF ConneCtion

Our biomechanics expert shares her favorite new app

By hilaRy M. Clayton, BVMS, PhD, DiPloMate aCVSMR, MRCVS

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PRECISION: Core control makes for a good seat. Shelly Francis rides Danilo at the 2015 Succeed/USDF FEI-Level Trainers Conference.

A Simple Aid to enhAnce core trAining for riderS

USDF ConneCtion • June 2015 43

i spent my career in academia using highly sophisticated

and very expensive equipment to study the movements

of athletic horses and riders. advances in technology

are now making it possible to measure certain aspects

of a rider’s performance and to evaluate the outcome of cor-

rections objectively. in this article, i’ll describe an easy-to-

use app that can help to improve your riding and training by

monitoring your pelvic stability to assist in core training.

Te Core and the Seatin the human body, the core consists of the region from

mid-chest to mid-thigh, which includes much of the tho-

racic spine, the lumbar spine, the pelvis, and the hips. Te

ability to control and stabilize this region is critically impor-

tant in dressage riders, who need to maintain correct spinal

alignment and core stability. Tese attributes constitute the

basis of what we refer to as “a good seat,” and they are some-

thing all dressage riders must work toward in order to im-

prove their ability to infuence the horse and also to reduce

the risk of back pain, in both themselves and their horses.

Te amount of tension in the muscles, tendons, and lig-

aments that attach to the vertebrae determines the position

and orientation of the spine. Te human spine normally has

a curved shape, with the curves helping to provide cushion-

ing and to protect the back from injury. Te neutral spine

and pelvis posture minimizes stress on spinal structures

and requires the least amount of energy to maintain.

Many equestrians use cross-training techniques, such as

Pilates, to strengthen their core muscles. however, strong

muscles alone are not a guarantee that the core will remain

stable during exercise. Te ability to sit on a horse with good

posture and to maintain core stability during diferent gaits

and movements is a skill that has to be learned while riding.

Until this skill is developed, it is not possible to sit in harmo-

ny with the horse’s movements or to give precise aids. Good

core stability is thus a critical element of a rider’s dressage

education, and having good core strength reduces of the risk

of back pain associated with riding or other daily activities.

An App Tat Assesses Core StabilityPerfect Practice inc. (PerfectPracticeUSa.com) markets two

apps for iPhone or iPod touch—level Belt lite and level

Belt Pro—whose purpose is to enhance the user’s pelvic-

stability awareness and to improve control of pelvic move-

ments. Tese apps can be used in the gym, such as while do-

ing Pilates exercises, or while you’re riding. With the iPhone

or iPod touch secured around the user’s hips, the app mea-

sures pelvic movements relative to a neutral or zero position

and provides immediate feedback when pelvic orientation

changes by more than a predetermined amount.

Te level Belt lite app requires ioS 5.0 or later and is

optimized for iPhone 5; it also works with iPhone 6 and

with iPad. it can be downloaded free of charge via apple’s

itunes and is a great introduction to the product. Tis app

measures forward and backward pelvic tilt relative to a neu-

tral position, with a choice of three thresholds of detection

(4 degrees, 8 degrees, or 12 degrees).

Te level Belt Pro app cost $29.99 when this article went

to press and has the same ioS requirement and device com-

patibilities as the lite version. in addition to forward/back-

ward tilt, level Belt Pro provides feedback regarding leaning

to the left or right, which is what happens when a rider “col-

lapses” a hip. Treshold values are set separately for the two

directions of movement. level Belt Pro records the angles,

which can be downloaded later and graphed out. one way

to use the app is to disconnect the headphones so that the

audible signal can be heard on video playback. you can then

identify movements in which you habitually tilt or lean. [

LEVEL BELT LITE: Screen shot showing how the free version of the app

measures forward and backward pelvic tilt

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LEVEL BELT PRO: Te paid version of the app shows not only the

degree of anterior/posterior (A/P) tilt, but also the user’s lateral tilt. In

the screen shot, the threshold value is set to 4 degrees.

44 June 2015 • USDF ConneCtion

Te level Belt app was created by a physical therapist

in conjunction with a biomechanical engineer. a study per-

formed at Te ohio State University showed that the app

provided accurate data. Since then, level Belt has been used

by participants in a variety of sports, from baseball to fgure

skating.

Perfect Practice inc. also ofers for purchase a neoprene

belt with an attached holder for the recording device. Te

CoreX Belt, as it’s called, comes in diferent versions made

to hold the various iPhone and iPod touch models. if you

prefer, you can devise your own method of attaching your

device; the important point is to make sure the device is an-

chored securely. if it fops around, the feedback you receive

will not be accurate. Te level Belt app uses your device’s

inertial sensor that is responsible for switching the display

between portrait and landscape modes when the device is

rotated, and to detect and measure changes in the device’s

orientation.

Using the Level Belt AppPosition the CoreX Belt over the most prominent part of

your hip bones in the front (anterior superior iliac spines),

with the device pocket in the appropriate location (see be-

low). Fasten the hook-and-loop closure snugly to prevent

the belt from slipping. adjust the stabilizing straps on each

side as needed to ensure that the belt stays put while you

ride or exercise.

insert your iPhone or iPod touch into the pocket in the

CoreX Belt. Tere is space for a headphone plug at its top

right corner. Te position of the device can be adjusted ac-

cording to the type of activity being performed. For seated

activities, such as riding or exercising on a stability ball, at-

tach your device horizontally across your tailbone. to as-

sess pelvic stability, such as while doing Pilates exercises in

a supine position, place the device at the side of your hip.

When you frst download the app, practice using it while

holding your device in your hand. experiment to fnd out

how much it has to be tilted in order to set of the audible

tone. you can start and stop recording directly from the

screen, but when you’re wearing the belt it’s better to oper-

ate it via a set of headphones with a built-in remote con-

trol, such as apple’s earPods, which come standard with all

iPhones and iPod touch devices. Plug the earPods into your

device, and decide where it’s comfortable and convenient to

run the cord.

When you start the app by pushing the button on the

headphones, you’ll hear the words “taring,” then “record-

ing.” at this point, the device has been zeroed in its starting

position and is set to give real-time biofeedback when the

device is tilted beyond the threshold amount. When you

push the button again, you’ll hear the word “stopping.”

UNMOUNTED USE: Te neoprene CoreX Belt is positioned over the

user’s hips, with the device placed at the side of the hip for use during

exercise in a supine position, such as Pilates

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ASSESSING PELVIC TILT: Ideal position for riders is to sit in the saddle in a neutral-spine position (photo 2). Te Level Belt app will alert the user

if her pelvis tilts forward and hollows her back (1), or if it tilts backward and rounds her back (3) by more than a preset amount.

1 2 3

USDF ConneCtion • June 2015 45

try using the level Belt app while seated on a stool or

exercise ball. Start the recording with your spine and pel-

vis in a neutral position, which will serve as a baseline for

comparison of pelvic angles when you move. tilt your pel-

vis forward by moving your hips ahead of your seat bones

and hollowing your back. Ten tilt your pelvis backward

by moving your hips behind your seat bones and rounding

your back. Feel how far your pelvis must move in each di-

rection before you hear the audible tone that indicates you

have reached or exceeded the set threshold of 4 degrees, 8

degrees, and 12 degrees. imagine you’re riding sitting trot

or canter, and simulate how much your pelvis moves in each

of those gaits.

On the Horse

after you’re comfortable setting up and using the level Belt

app, it’s time to take it into the saddle. i always desensitize

the horse to the sound of the device’s audible tone, just in

case the earPods become detached or i want to allow ob-

servers to hear it while i ride. So far i haven’t had a problem

with horses reacting to the sound, even those that are sensi-

tive to unusual noises.

Strap on the belt, attach your device, and secure the ear-

Pods before you put on your riding helmet. Make sure that

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STARTING POINT: Before zeroing the unit, make sure your horse is

standing still and square on a level surface and that you are sitting with

your spine and pelvis in a neutral position

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46 June 2015 • USDF ConneCtion

everything feels comfortable and stable before you mount.

Warm up and make any necessary saddlery adjustments be-

fore you begin to take measurements. Make sure that:

•Te saddle is straight and aligned along the middle of

the horse’s back

•Te girth is tight

• your horse is standing on level ground with his legs in a

square position

• you’re sitting in the center of the saddle with your spine

and pelvis in a neutral position.

Start the app is by pushing the remote-control button

on the earPod cord. Te app will record the zero position

of your pelvis. if your pelvis subsequently deviates by more

than a set amount from the zero position, the device will

provide immediate feedback in the form of an audible tone.

Te app can be set to vibrate mode instead of to the audible

tone, but the vibration is not always easy to feel, especially if

you’re wearing several layers of clothing.

Optimal Pelvic

Position While Ridingalthough pelvic stability is the goal, keep in mind that some

pelvic motion is essential in order to follow the movements

of the horse’s back. Research on expert riders has shown

that, when the rider sits passively and follows the horse’s

movement at sitting trot, the pelvis swings through an angle

of about 10 degrees during every stride: approximately 6 de-

grees forward tilt and 4 degrees backward tilt relative to the

neutral position. When the rider is actively infuencing the

horse and riding in collection at sitting trot, the pelvis is

primarily tilted backward by up to 8 degrees in each stride.

as these data relate to the level Belt app, a rider should

not aim to stay within the narrowest range of tilting mo-

tion (± 4 degrees); ±8 degrees is a more realistic target. even

with this setting, the audible tone may be activated when

your seat is maximally tilted forward to improve collection.

With regard to left/right leaning, aim to stay fairly close

to the neutral position (vertical). a dressage rider’s range of

lateral motion is about 5 degrees at sitting trot (2.5 degrees

to the left and 2.5 degrees to the right). For starters, set the

app to a range of ± 8 degrees. When you can stay within this

range consistently, work toward staying within ± 4 degrees.

if you use the level Belt Pro version of the app, it will

record your angles continuously throughout each trial, and

the values can later be downloaded into a spreadsheet. if

you make a graph of the values, you will see a regular pat-

tern of pelvic motion as your pelvis swings with the move-

ments of the horse.

Goal: Muscle Memoryit can be difcult to change one’s habitual riding posture be-

cause any position change may feel strange and uncomfort-

able at frst. Te level Belt app is a useful training tool that

can provide riders with real-time feedback about their pel-

vic position and movements. Tis information can be used

to support training and reeducation of the neuromuscular

system—your “muscle memory.” over time, you can learn

to maintain correct body position as a refex action rather

than having to keep thinking about it. s

DON’T LEAN IN: Balance in dressage is achieved only when the rider

sits straight in the saddle (1). Photo 2 shows the rider “collapsing” her left

hip so that her pelvis leans to the right and her trunk leans to the left.

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Hilary Clayton,

BVMS, PhD,

Diplomate

ACVSMR, MRCVS, is

the professor and Mary

Anne McPhail Dressage

Chair emerita. She was

the frst-ever Mary Anne

McPhail Dressage Chair in

Equine Sports Medicine at

Michigan State University’s

College of Veterinary

Medicine, East Lansing,

from 1997 to 2014. At the same time, she was also

a professor in MSU’s Department of Large Animal

Clinical Sciences.

A world-renowned expert on equine biome-

chanics and conditioning, Dr. Clayton is president

of Sport Horse Science, LC, which is dedicated to

translating research data into practical advice for

riders, trainers, and veterinarians through lectures,

articles, and private consultations. A USDF gold,

silver, and bronze medalist, she is a member of the

US Equestrian Federation Dressage Committee and a

USDF Connection contributing editor.

Meet the Expert

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