Gait evaluation in hip osteoarthritic and normal dogs using a serial force plate system

摘要

The effect of canine hip osteoarthritis (OA) on vertical force distribution was studied using a serial force platform system. This system allows simultaneous measurement of vertical and horizontal force impulses from each limb of a trotting dog. Using these measurements and novel analysis techniques a complete and precise analysis of load distribution was performed. Load distribution was compared between a group of normal dogs and a group of dogs with radiographic evidence of hip OA. Results of this study indicate that trotting dogs with hip OA re-distribute vertical force primarily by shifting force between trotting pairs (side-to-side compensation) rather than within trotting pairs (hind-to-fore compensation).