Modification of the contact area of a standard force platform and runway for small breed dogs

A. S. Kapatkin; J. Y. W. Kim; T. C. Garcia-Nolan; S. Y. Kim; K. Hayashi; P. L. Hitchens; S. M. Stover

doi:10.3415/VCOT-13-10-0118

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2014; 27(04): 257-262
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-13-10-0118

Original Research

Schattauer GmbH

Modification of the contact area of a standard force platform and runway for small breed dogs

A. S. Kapatkin

¹University of California, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, Davis, CA, USA

,

J. Y. W. Kim

²University of California, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Davis, CA, USA

⁵Current: Animal Specialty & Emergency Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA

⁶Current: University of California, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, Davis, CA, USA

,

T. C. Garcia-Nolan

³University of California, J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Davis, CA, USA

,

S. Y. Kim

²University of California, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Davis, CA, USA

,

K. Hayashi

¹University of California, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, Davis, CA, USA

⁷Current: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

,

P. L. Hitchens

³University of California, J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Davis, CA, USA

⁸Current: University of California, Davis, Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, USA

,

S. M. Stover

⁴University of California, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, Davis, CA, USA

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Objectives: To develop a platform that used standard size force plates for large breed dogs to capture ground reaction force data from any size dog.

Methods: A walkway platform was constructed to accommodate two force plates (60 cm x 40 cm) positioned in series to a variety of smaller sizes. It was constructed from a custom wood frame with thick aluminium sheet force plate covers that prevented transfer of load to the force plate, except for rectangular windows of three different dimensions. A friction study was performed to ensure plates did not translate relative to one another during gait trials. A prospective, observational, single crossover study design was used to compare the effect of force platform configuration (full plate size [original plate], half plate size [modified plate]) on ground reaction forces using eight adult healthy Labrador Retriever dogs.

Results: Slippage of the steel plate on the force plate did not occur. Peak propulsion force was the only kinetic variable statistically different between the full size and half sized platforms. There were no clinically significant differences between the full and half force platforms for the variables and dogs studied.

Discussion and conclusion: The modified force platform allows the original 60 x 40 cm force plate to be adjusted effectively to a 30 x 40 cm, 20 x 40 cm and 15 x 40 cm sized plate with no clinically significant change in kinetic variables. This modification that worked for large breed dogs will potentially allow kinetic analysis of a large variety of dogs with different stride lengths.

Keywords

Force platform - kinetics - gait analysis - ground reaction forces - dogs

Full Text

References

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