Veterinary surgeon with a PhD in Equine Biomechanics (Utrecht University), Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK). Her expertise focuses on animal biomechanics and clinical lameness. She combines research and teaching with clinical practice in integrative veterinary medicine, specialising in objective outcomes measures and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions in equine, canine, and feline patients.
Biography
Veterinary surgeon (Chile, 1998) with a PhD in Equine Biomechanics from Utrecht University. She is a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK), as well as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and Rehabilitation Therapist.
Her expertise lies in applied animal biomechanics and clinical lameness. She previously served as Lecturer in Musculoskeletal Biology, as Founder and Director of the Animal Biomechanics Laboratory and as Chair of the Ethics and Animal Welfare Committee at the University of Surrey. She currently works as a clinical research consultant, international lecturer, and Associate Editor for Musculoskeletal Science & Orthopaedics at Equine Veterinary Journal.
Alongside her academic work, she practises integrative veterinary medicine, focusing on objective outcome measures and the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions in equine, canine, and feline patients.
Research
Animal Muscuslosketal Biomechanics: conformation, lameness, back pain and integrative medicine.
Clinical research applying expertise in musculoskeletal biomechanics and gait analysis across a range of species, from zoo animals to horses and companion animals. She has investigated the relationship between conformation and the biomechanics of standing posture and gait in different dog breeds. She has validated novel technologies and equipment for the assessment of musculoskeletal biomechanics in veterinary species, and explored vertebral and limb kinematics in health, as well as compensatory movement patterns in lameness and back pain in horses and dogs. She continues to study integrative and complementary therapies using gait analysis technologies to generate objective outcome measures.
Publications
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS ON BIOMECHANICS:
RAMON, T, GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ, C.B., CARMONA, J.U., PRADES, M. Effect of a single-session osteopathic manipulation of dysfunctional caudal cervical vertebrae in non-lame sport horses. J Equine Rehab 3 (2025) 100037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100037
RAMON, T, GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ, C.B., ELMEUA, M. CARMONA, J.U., PRADES, M. Effect of a single osteopathic manipulation on the sacroiliac joint in sport horses with sacroiliac dysfunction. J Equine Rehab 3 (2025) 100028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100028
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ, C.B., TEUNISSEN M. 2025. Conference report: from the abstracts of the canine section at The 9th International Conference on Canine and Equine Locomotion, Utrecht, 2023. J Small Anim Pract. 2025 Jan 12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13819
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ, C.B., SERRA BRAGANÇA, F.M., VAN WEEREN, P.R. 2024. Science-in-brief: Highlights from the abstracts at the Ninth International Conference on Canine and Equine Locomotion, Utrecht, 2023. Equine Vet J, 56: 832-837. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14196
GOMES M.V.F., RAHAL S.C., SANTOS I.F.C.D., DADALTO C.R., MAMPRIM M.J., NEGRÃO R.R., HORMAZA J.M., TSUNEMI M.H., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ, C.B. Long-Term Effects of Whole-Body Vibration on Hind Limb Muscles, Gait and Pain in Lame Dogs with Borderline-to-Severe Hip Dysplasia—A Pilot Study. Animals 2023, 13, 3456. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13223456
SHAHEEN A.F., LINS D., TOLEDO T., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B. 2023. Validity and Reliability of Postural Stability Measures from a Pressure Mat in Healthy Miniature Dachshunds. BMC Veterinary Research 19, 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-023-03633-0
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., OOSTERLINCK M. 2022. Editorial: The ongoing quest for a validated, universally accepted visual lameness grading scale. Equine Veterinary Journal, Nov 16. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13896
HUMPHRIES A., SHAHEEN A.F., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B. 2020. Biomechanical comparison of standing posture and during trot between German shepherd and Labrador retriever dogs. PLOS ONE 15(10): e0239832. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239832
HUMPHRIES A., SHAHEEN A.F., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B. 2020. Different conformations of the German shepherd dog breed affect its posture and movement. Scientific Reports 10, 16924. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73550-x
WHITE G.F., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B. AND LEWIS R. 2020. Are biologics more effective than corticosteroids for intra‐articular treatment of osteoarthritis?. Equine Vet Educ. https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.13413
VAN WEEREN P.R., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B. 2019. Editorial: Equine gait analysis: The slow start, the recent breakthroughs and the sky as the limit? Equine Veterinary Journal, 51 (6):809-810. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13161
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., VAN WEEREN P.R. 2019. Editorial: Practical uses of quantitative gait analysis in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 51(6):811-812. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13162
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C. B. 2019. Editorial: Clinical insights: Biomechanics and lameness diagnosis. Equine Veterinary Journal, Editorial 51:5-6. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13036
LEWIS R., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C. B., RAYMAN M., LANHAM-NEW S., WOOLF A., MOBASHERI A. 2019. Strategies for optimising musculoskeletal health in the 21st century. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 20:164. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2510-7
BERGH A., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., RHODIN M., GUSTÅS P. 2018. Head and pelvic vertical displacement in dogs with induced swinging limb lameness: an experimental study. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 60: 81. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-018-0435-z
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., GUSTAS P., BERGH A., RHODIN M. 2017. Vertical head and pelvic movement symmetry at the trot in dogs with induced supporting limb lameness. The Veterinary Journal, 229:13–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.10.011
DEN UIJL I., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., BARTRAM D., DROR Y., HOLLAND R., COOK A. 2017. External validation of a collar-mounted triaxial accelerometer for second-by-second monitoring of eight behavioural states in dogs. PLOS ONE, 12(11): e0188481. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0188481
RHODIN M., BERGH A., GUSTÅS P., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B. 2017. Inertial sensor-based system for lameness detection in trotting dogs with induced lameness. The Veterinary Journal, 222:54-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.02.004
ZINDL C., TUCKER R., JOVANOVIK E., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., FITZPATRICK N. 2017. Variations in lumbosacral intervertebral foramina dimensions comparing parasagittal standard and oblique magnetic resonance imaging measurements in dogs with hyperextended and neutral positioning. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound, 58(2):206-215. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.12438
WENNERSTRAND J., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., MEULENBELT R., JOHNSTON C., VAN WEEREN P.R., ROETHLISBERGER-HOLM K., DREVEMO S. 2009. Spinal kinematics in horses with induced back pain. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 22:448-54. https://doi.org/10.3415/VCOT-08-09-0088
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., RHODIN M., BACK W., VAN WEEREN P.R. 2009. Back kinematics of healthy trotting horses during treadmill vs. overground locomotion. Equine Veterinary Journal, Supplement 41, 297-300. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409X397370
RHODIN M., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C. B., BYSTROM A., JOHNSTON C., VAN WEEREN P. R., ROESTORFF L., WEISHAUPT M. A. 2009. The effect of different head and neck positions on the caudal back and hind limb kinematics in the elite dressage horse at trot. Equine Veterinary Journal, Supplement 41:274-279.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409X394436
WALDERN N. M., WIESTNER T., VON PEINEN K., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., ROESTORFF L., JOHNSTON C., MEYER H., WEISHAUPT M. A. 2009. Influence of different head-neck positions on vertical ground reaction forces, linear and time parameters in the unridden horses walking and trotting on a treadmill. Equine Veterinary Journal, Supplement 41:268-273. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409X397389
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., L’AMI J. J., MOFFAT D., BACK W., VAN WEEREN P. R. 2008. Effect of chiropractic manipulations on the kinematics of back and limbs in horses with clinically diagnosed back problems. Equine Veterinary Journal, 40:153-9. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516408X250292
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., BOBBERT M.F., LAMERS L., BACK W., VAN WEEREN, P.R. 2008. The effect of induced hindlimb lameness on thoracolumbar kinematics during treadmill locomotion. Equine Veterinary Journal, 40:147-52. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516408X250184#
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ CB., 2008. De rug van het paard: brug tussen de ledematen, maar functioneel onvoldoende begrepen [The back of the horse: a bridge between the extremities, but functionally not enough understood]. Tijdschrift Diergeneeskunde, 1:133:804-6. Dutch. PMID: 18947048
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., WENNERSTRAND J., BOBBERT M.F., LAMERS L., JOHNSTON C., BACK W., VAN WEEREN P.R. 2007. The effect of induced forelimb lameness on thoracolumbar kinematics during treadmill locomotion. Equine Veterinary Journal, 39:197-201. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516407X173668
BOBBERT M.F., GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., VAN WEEREN P.R., ROEPSTORFF L., WEISHAUPT M.A. 2007. Validation of vertical ground reaction forces on individual limbs calculated from kinematics of horse locomotion. Journal of Experimental Biology, 210:1885-1896. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.02774
GÓMEZ ÁLVAREZ C.B., RHODIN M., BOBBERT M.F., MEYER H., WEISHAUPT M.A., JOHNSTON C., VAN WEEREN P.R. 2006. The effect of different head and neck positions on the thoracolumbar kinematics in the unridden horse. Equine Veterinary Journal, Supplement 36:445-451. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05585.x
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS ON OTHER AREAS:
RATTO M., GÓMEZ C., BERLAND M., ADAMS G.P. 2006. Effect of ovarian superstimulation on COC collection and maturation in alpacas. Animal Reproduction Science, 97:246–256.
PETRÓN P., GÓMEZ C., ANDAUR M., PEREZ R., AVILÉZ J.P., MATAMOROS R. 2004. Measurement of post-exercise physiological, haematological and biochemistry parameters in Holsteiner jumping horses. Revista Científica de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias de la Universidad del Zulia, 14 (3): 244-253.
MATAMOROS M., GÓMEZ C., ANDAUR M. 2002. Hormones as diagnostic tools in Veterinary Medicine. Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria, 34:167-182.
