Variability of Kinetic and Kinematic Variables Associated with Canine Gait: A preliminary Investigation

Within canine gait analysis variability associated with kinetic (force based) variables is established to be less than 10%CV however, variability associated with kinematic (movement based) variables is largely unknown. This investigation aimed to quantify inter- and intra-session variability associated with both kinematic and kinetic gait variables. Following habituation, a male clinically sound beagle was analysed on three separate occasions. The dog was trotted (speed: 2.39 ± 0.2 m/s) by a single handler over a walkway that contained an embedded AMTI force plate synchronised with an 8 camera Qualisys system to enable the simultaneous collection of kinematic and kinetic variables. Within each session, 5 trials of a functional step were analysed with a valid trial defined by the complete ipsilateral left fore- and right hind- strike over the force plate. Variability of both kinetic and kinematic variables were analysed using %CV. Both absolute and relative peak force and vertical impulse demonstrated low inter and intra-session variability (<8%CV), with greater variability associated with kinematic variables. Whilst absolute joint angles demonstrated acceptable inter- and intra-session variability (1-19%CV), findings suggest applying data processing methods utilised within human gait analysis to improve variability fail to reduce variability associated with kinematic variables within canines.