Temporo-spatial and kinetic gait parameters in English setter dogs
Abstract
Walking analysis systems have begun to be used in veterinary medicine in recent years. The pressure-sensitive walkway is one of the systems through which we can obtain temporo-spatial and kinetic variables of walking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the walking characteristics of English Setter dogs using a pressure-sensitive system. Twenty-five English Setter dogs were included in the study. Temporo-spatial and kinetic gait parameters were obtained with the pressure-sensitive walkway system. Centre of pressure values were taken separately for the forelimbs and hindlimbs and were statistically analysed. The force values in the forelimb were found to be greater than in the hindlimb during walking. According to the results of dynamic pedobarographic evaluation, the highest-pressure values were found at the 2nd and 3rd digital pads for the forelimbs and on the 3rd and 4th digital pads for the hindlimbs. During the stance, 64.58% of the weight was found to be on the forelimbs. No difference was found between the forelimbs and the hindlimbs in centre of pressure analysis. As conclusion, the gait data obtained from the English Setter dogs can be used in future research to identify animals that may have neurological or orthopaedic problems.
1 INTRODUCTION
Gait analysis systems help us obtain numerical data about the biomechanics of gait. These data enable us to obtain data that we cannot catch with the naked eye while collecting information about the patient in the field of medicine such as walking times, pushing times and step times (Erbahçeci & Bayramlar, 2018). Various studies are available in areas such as biomechanics, orthopaedics and neurology using these systems (Andrada, Reinhardt, Lucas, & Fischer, 2017; Lascelles, Findley, Correa, Marcellin-Little, & Roe, 2007; Lewis et al., 2019; López, Vilar, Rubio, Sopena, Damiá, et al., 2019).
There are many systems developed to perform gait analysis. Image capture systems, one of the most basic biomechanical data acquisition methods, have been used in the veterinary field for many years (Huang, Huang, & Lin, 2013; Hunt, Thomas, & Stiefel, 1999). With these systems, images were captured with the help of a camera and these images were evaluated in computer environment. These systems have been developed over time, and the marker-based systems started to be used to perform gait analysis by the image obtained from the motion of the markers (Bosch et al., 2018; Serra Bragança et al., 2018). Walking plates such as force plates and pressure-sensitive plates give information about the kinetic data of the gait. Data about the force applied by the feet on the ground during the movement are collected. Vertical forces applied to the ground are obtained with force plates. Some studies that have been carried out on orthopaedically distressed animals have used these data (Voss, Wiestner, Galeandro, Hässig, & Montavon, 2011; Wustefeld-Janssens et al., 2016). The pressure-sensitive walkway (PSW), which is one of the most advanced examples of these systems, provides pressure data applied by the sole of the foots on the ground (Agostinho et al., 2012; Fahie, Cortez, Ledesma, & Su, 2018; Iodence, Olsen, McGilvray, Duncan, & Duerr, 2018; Keebaugh, Redman-Bentley, & Griffon, 2015).
The PSW system is a pressure measuring gait plate. The pressure data applied by each foot on the ground can be examined separately. In addition, real-time recording can be done with camera systems and walking times are recorded. This system is used in tests that give information about walking balance such as centre of pressure (COP) analysis (Ko & Lee, 2013; Yoo et al., 2017).
With this analysis, pressure centre changes during movement are recorded. These pressure changes create a butterfly-shaped graph in computer environment (Kalron & Frid, 2015). Abnormal changes on this graph can be examined. These data can be used in the diagnosis of diseases. In a previous study conducted with this system in the veterinary field, it has been reported that a butterfly graph, which provides information especially about lateral symmetry, has been obtained, similar to studies in human medicine (Lewis et al., 2019).
The present study aimed to obtain the walking characteristics of English Setter dogs with the Zebris FDM-2 PSW system. The pressure differences between the forelimbs and the hindlimbs were tried to be determined, and the effect of the weight on the gait force values was examined. The hypothesis was that the pressure data of the forelimbs would be higher than the hindlimbs in both static and dynamic evaluation results of these dogs.
2 MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 Dogs
Twenty-five clinically sound English Setter dogs (17 females, 8 males), whose ages ranged from 1 to 8 years (2.20 ± 2.09), were included in the study. Before the dogs were included in the study, standard physical, orthopaedic and neurological examinations were performed and their weights were measured. No clinical abnormalities like lameness or pain were detected in any dog. Animals that have not undergone any orthopaedic intervention before and actively hunt were included. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Approval number: 171842), and the dogs’ owners provided informed consent.
2.2 Gait assessment
Gait parameters were measured and recorded instantly using the Zebris FDM-2 Pressure-sensitive walkway (PSW) system (Zebris Medical GmbH). The system contains a pressure distribution measuring platform. The pressure platform measures 212 × 60.5 × 2.1 cm (L × W × H), and it has a 203 × 54.2 cm (L × W) sensor area. This platform is equipped with 15.360 force sensors that can measure pressure per square centimetre. Sampling rate is 100 Hz. During the walk on the platform, recording is also done with a real-time camera. Gait data obtained through the force sensors and the camera were transferred to the computer, and evaluations were done using Zebris FDM Software Suite.
On the evaluation day, Zebris FDM-2 System was set up in an open area. After the general clinical examination, the dogs walked at the normal walking speed with leash on the platform four times under the supervision of two specialised veterinary physicians. An average of 30 steps was taken from each dog. Evaluations for each dog were performed on the same day. Measurements were calculated by an experienced veterinary physician specialised in animal anatomy.
2.3 Temporo-spatial gait analysis
Stance phase data were analysed for each foot. The duration of each step's ground contact time (Step Time) and how long it took one step (Stride Time) were recorded in seconds during the movement. The number of steps taken per minute was recorded (Cadence). Their velocity was obtained in kilometres/hour (km/hr). All values were recorded separately for male and female.
2.4 Kinetic gait analysis
During the walk, the force values applied by each foot on the ground were obtained. The force values applied by each foot to the ground during walking were recorded in Newton (N), and the maximum pressure (MP) values were recorded as Newton/centimetre square (N/cm2). The pressure values on the paw during walking were examined using dynamic pedobarographic. It was recorded in which parts of the paw MP values occurred.
2.5 Stance analysis
Static values of the dogs that showed normal posture without moving on all four legs on the platform were measured. They were recorded in computer software for 10 s, which remained stable on the platform. Distributions of body weight across the four limbs were recorded.
2.6 Centre of pressure (COP) analysis
Central pressure changes were obtained throughout the walking, and during this process, the anterior/posterior position and the asymmetrical changes (Lateral symmetry) to the sides were recorded in millimetres (mm). By means of the software used in the study, exchange data for the forelimbs and hindlimbs were obtained separately.
2.7 Statistical analysis
SPSS program (SPSS for Windows, version 22.0) was used to evaluate the data obtained in the study. Averages of the gait parameters and standard deviations were taken separately for the male and female dogs. Paired-samples t test was used for kinetic gait parameters, and COP analysis values and statistical difference between the forelimbs and the hindlimbs were obtained. Correlations between weight and force values were examined.
3 RESULTS
In the study, temporo-spatial gait analysis results of 25 dogs are given in Table 1. Female and male values were recorded separately. The duration of the stance phase that produced the step was 68.73% for male and 67.26% for female. It was noted that the dogs that tried to be carried at the same speed passed through the platform with an average speed of 4.67 km. It was observed that the average step times were 0.34 s, and the average stride times were 0.77 s.
| Sex | N | Stance phase (%) | Step time (s) | Stride time (s) | Velocity (km/hr) | Cadence (Step/min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 8 | 68.73 ± 9.17 | 0.35 ± 0.14 | 0.78 ± 0.22 | 5.04 ± 1.94 | 170.25 ± 51.98 |
| Female | 17 | 67.26 ± 6.93 | 0.34 ± 0.15 | 0.77 ± 0.32 | 4.5 ± 1.3 | 184.49 ± 54.15 |
| Total | 25 | 67.73 ± 7.55 | 0.34 ± 0.15 | 0.78 ± 0.29 | 4.67 ± 1.52 | 179.94 ± 52.81 |
Note
- (Mean ± Standard deviation).
Kinetic gait analysis results are given in Table 2. The pressure value applied by each foot to the floor during movement was calculated separately for the forelimb and hindlimb. It was observed that the force values applied by the forelimb on the ground were higher than the hindlimb. The average force value applied to the ground by dogs with an average weight of 19.88 kg was 146.96 N and 125.23 N for the forelimb and hindlimb, respectively. This difference was found to be statistically significant (p < .05). No statistical difference was found between the right and left feet.
| Force Foot (Newton) | Static (%) | Maximum pressure (Newton/cm2) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forelimb | Hindlimb | Forelimb | Hindlimb | Forelimb | Hindlimb | |
|
Mean ± SD |
25 | 25 | 25 | |||
| 146.96 ± 31.27 | 125.23 ± 28.23 | 64.58 ± 3.81 | 35.42 ± 3.81 | 12.7 ± 2.7 | 10.67 ± 1.93 | |
| * | ** | ** | ||||
- * p < .05.
- ** p < .001.
In the stance analysis, it was observed that the weight ratio falling on the forelimb was higher than the hindlimb (Figure ). In this analysis, it was found that 64.58% of the total weight was on the forelimb. This difference was found to be statistically significant (p < .001).
The maximum pressure values for each foot were examined separately. During the movement, the highest MP values have been seen to be on the forelimb. In addition, this difference was statistically significant (p < .001). It was observed that MP values for both forelimb and hindlimb were higher in digital pads than metacarpal and metatarsal pads. According to the results of dynamic pedobarographic evaluation, the highest-pressure values were found at the 2nd and 3rd digital pads for the forelimb and on the 3rd and 4th digital pads for the hindlimb (Figure 2). The distribution of these values was similar in all examples. Figure 2 shows the dynamic pedobarographic of the force applied by the left forelimb and left hindlimb of a dog weighing 25 kg on the ground during walking. In the photograph, the parts of the force applied by the stance phase duration of the foot to the ground in 6 equal sections are illustrated.
COP analysis values were obtained separately for the forelimb and hindlimb of the dogs used in the study, and these values are given in Table 3. Anterior/post-position and lateral symmetry were taken separately for forelimb and hindlimb. Since the weight of the 5 dogs used in the study is less than the threshold value that the walking plate will detect, only the values of 20 dogs were examined. It was determined that the values between the forelimb and hindlimb were close, and there was no statistical difference between them. Although the anterior/post-position change was more homogeneous, the lateral symmetry values were very variable for each dog and their standard deviation was very high compared to the mean.
| Anterior/Post-position (mm) | Lateral symmetry (mm) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forelimb | Hindlimb | Forelimb | Hindlimb | |
| N | 20 | 20 | ||
| Mean ± SD | 56.01 ± 7.28 | 56.86 ± 9.82 | 12.55 ± 11.51 | 17.42 ± 11.18 |
| NS | NS | |||
- Abbreviation: NS, Not significant.
The correlation difference between the weights, the maximum pressure values for the forelimb and hindlimb and the static percentage values of the forelimb obtained as a result of stance analysis are given in Table 4. A positive correlation was observed between all values. It was observed that the weight falling on the forefoot increased with increasing weight, but this value was found to be quite low (correlation value: 0.091). Only the correlation difference between forefoot and hindlimb maximum pressure values was found to be statistically significant (correlation value: 0.717).
| Weight | Forelimb MP | Hindlimb MP | Static | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1 | |||
| Forelimb MP | 0.361 | 1 | ||
| Hindlimb MP | 0.323 | 0.717* | 1 | |
| Static Value | 0.091 | 0.379 | 0.213 | 1 |
- * Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level.
4 DISCUSSION
Temporo-spatial and kinetic parameters can be obtained with force plates and pressure-sensitive walkway plates. However, PSW is more advantageous for obtaining more specific data. It is thought that it can help in education fields with its advanced graphics and pedobarographic features of gait measurement. Using the pressure-sensitive walkway system, the pressure characteristics of English Setter dog breeds were obtained. Thanks to the static measurement, the stance characteristics of these breed were obtained numerically. It is thought that important information is obtained in terms of biomechanics by comparing the force values with the forelimb and hindlimb. It is thought that the pedobarographic parameters used in dogs with lameness have made the studies of motion biomechanics more specific (López, Vilar, Rubio, Sopena, Santana, et al., 2019).
In orthopaedic examinations, observational diagnostic methods are generally used. The delays that occur during walking and which standing this delay occurs are open to interpretation. Thanks to the temporo-spatial gait analysis, numerical data of movements that occur during walking can be obtained (Clayton, Lanovaz, Schamhardt, Willemen, & Colborne, 1998; Gündemir, Erdikmen, Ateşpare, & Avanus, 2019). In particular, stance and swing phases can be used for each leg to interpret lameness (Kim et al., 2017).
The temporo-spatial and kinetic studies in dogs are available using pressure-sensitive walkway (Besancon, Conzemius, Evans, & Ritter, 2004; Fahie et al., 2018; Light, Steiss, Montgomery, Rumph, & Wright, 2010; Marghitu et al., 2003; Mölsä, Hielm-Björkman, & Laitinen-Vapaavuori, 2010; Souza, Pinto, Marvulle, & Matera, 2013). In these studies, force-specific dog breed data and reference biomechanics of gait were obtained. In a study conducted in Greyhounds, it was said that the digital pad peaks vertical force for both the forelimb and hindlimb was more than the metacarpal and metatarsal pads (Besancon et al., 2004). In Labrador Retrievers, while the peak vertical force was on the metacarpal pads on the forelimb, it was said to be on the 4th digital pad on the hindlimb (Besancon et al., 2004). It is said that the force values applied to the ground during walking in English pointer dogs are higher in the forelimb than in the hindlimb (Marghitu et al., 2003). In these studies, it was said that the maximum force values occur in the area of the digital pads that touch the ground. It was observed that the force values on the forelimb were higher than the hindlimb.
Centre of pressure analysis, which is generally used in human medicine neurological cases, has been used in dogs, and reference data have been obtained (Carrillo et al., 2018). The COP analysis values obtained were evaluated in healthy and chronic spinal cord injury dogs (Lewis et al., 2019). COP data of samples with chronic spinal cord injury were said to be higher. In another study in dogs, the improvement in lame animals after treatment was demonstrated by COP analysis (Manera et al., 2017). In this study, COP analysis data were obtained in clinically sound English Setter dogs. The information contained in the reference information was taken into consideration, and 100 Hz sampling rate was used for COP analysis in the study (Manera et al., 2017). These data were obtained separately for the forelimb and hindlimb, but it was seen that there was no statistical difference between them. Lateral symmetry variations were found to be higher than anterior–posterior changes. It can be thought that this statistically insignificant difference was due to the neck collar used for dogs in this study. In previous studies, the effect of the collar on these forces was investigated and it was said to have an effect on the force data (Keebaugh et al., 2015; Peham, Limbeck, Galla, & Bockstahler, 2013). We think that the Centre of pressure analysis should be developed further in the field of veterinary medicine. We think that the numerical data given by this system will be very valuable in the diagnosis of orthopaedic disorders that may arise especially from the neurological diseases of dogs and during recovery.
Static and dynamic pedobarographic parameters can also be obtained by using the pressure-sensitive walkway system. In this study, dynamic pedobarographic were examined and dog's compression characteristics were observed morphologically. It was seen that some dogs were afraid of the platform and just hit the ground with their digital pads. It was determined that the dogs, who were accustomed to the platform after a few exercises, applied force to the ground in their metacarpal and metatarsal pads. Pedobarographic parameters, previously used in a study performed in dogs by Manera et al. (2017), were used in the diagnosis of compression disorders in human medicine. This method can also be developed in dog medicine. With these features, PSW system is thought to have an important place in veterinary medicine.
5 CONCLUSION
As in the reference data, the studies obtained with the pressure-sensitive walkway system contain valuable information for the biomechanics of walking. With the analyses such as centre of pressure, pedobarographic and temporo-spatial, these platforms, which are accepted as the “gold standard” for gait assessment, will be indispensable in the orthopaedic field in the following years.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was funded by the Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Research Projects Coordination Unit (Project Number: TSA-2019-34348), and we as authors are very grateful. We also wanted to thank Nergis Pehlivan very much for the help in the analysis of the walking data and SetterKennel Mustafa Polat for the help in getting the healthy hunting dogs used in the study.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
