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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2017; 30(01): 54-58
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-16-04-0054
Original Research
Schattauer GmbH

The evaluation of limb symmetry indices using ground reaction forces collected with one or two force plates in healthy dogs

Nicola J. Volstad
1   University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA
,
Gabby Sandberg
1   University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA
,
Sarah Robb
1   University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA
,
Steven C. Budsberg
1   University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 08 April 2016

Accepted: 13 October 2016

Publication Date:
26 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Objective: To compare the variability of symmetry indices within and between days when using one and two force plates for data collection.

Animals: Seventeen healthy client-owned adult dogs.

Methods: Vertical ground reaction force data were collected in a crossover study design, with four collection sessions on two consecutive days, and then two weeks apart (days 1, 2, 15, and 16) using both 1-plate and 2-plate collection methods. Symmetry indices were calculated for limb pairs using two standard equations (SI1 and SI2). Repeated measures analysis was used to compare symmetry indices data between plate systems and days. Significance was set at p <0.05.

Results: There were no significant differences between plate systems for SI1 and SI2. There were no significant differences between data collected on different days and no significant interaction effects between variables. Symmetry indices were consistently larger for ground reaction forces calculated from non-consecutive footfalls.

Conclusions: The use of two force plate systems will minimize variance caused by trial repetition and paired limb variation. When comparing SI1 to SI2, results were not significantly different. However, there were consistently higher mean values for SI1 compared with SI2 and symmetry indices were consistently larger for 1-plate systems compared to 2-plate systems for both symmetry indices.

Keywords

Symmetry indices - force plate - dog - ground reaction forces
 

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