Evaluation of the repeatability of kinetic and temporospatial gait variables measured with a pressure-sensitive treadmill for dogs
Journal
American Journal of Veterinary Research
Journal Volume
81
Journal Issue
12
Pages
922-929
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
DOI
AJVRA
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate intrasession and intersession repeatability of measurements for temporospatial and kinetic variables obtained with a pressure-sensitive treadmill designed for gait analysis of dogs. ANIMALS 16 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES The influence of treadmill speed on accuracy of ground reaction force (GRF) measurements was assessed by simulated gait analysis at 0 to 7.5 km/h with a custom test device. A similar test was performed with 1 client-owned dog ambulating on the treadmill at 5 speeds (3 to 7 km/h) for GRF calculations. Fifteen client-owned dogs were then walked on the treadmill at 3 km/h for collection of temporospatial and kinetic data. Intrasession repeatability was determined by comparing 2 sets of measurements obtained ≤ 2 hours apart. Intersession repeatability was determined by comparing the first set of these measurements with those for a second session ≥ 4 days later. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs; consistency test) and difference ratios were calculated to assess repeatability. RESULTS Increases in treadmill speed yielded a mean 9.1% decrease in weight-nor-malized force data at belt speeds of up to 7.5 km/h for the test device, compared with the value when the treadmill belt was stationary. Results were similar for the dog at increasing treadmill speeds (mean decrease, 12.4%). For temporospatial data, intrasession ICCs were > 0.9 and intersession ICCs ranged from 0.75 to 0.9; for GRFs, intrasession and intersession ICCs ranged from 0.68 to 0.97 and from 0.35 to 0.78, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Repeatability of temporospatial data for healthy dogs was good to excel-lent; results for kinetic data varied. Further research is needed to investi-gate use of this system for gait analysis with larger samples of dogs and dogs with lameness. (Am J Vet Res 2020;81:922–929). © 2020, American Veterinary Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Other Subjects
animal experiment; animal lameness; Article; body build; body size; body weight; controlled study; correlation coefficient; data consistency; dog; female; gait; ground reaction force; intersession repeatability; Intrasession repeatability; kinetics; male; measurement accuracy; measurement repeatability; mobilization; nonhuman; pelvic girdle; pressure; prospective study; spatiotemporal analysis; step length; thoracic limb; walking parameters; walking speed; weight normalized force; animal; biomechanics; exercise test; gait; reproducibility; veterinary medicine; walking
Publisher
American Veterinary Medical Association
Type
journal article