Kinematics of the elbow and stifle joints in greyhounds during treadmill trotting – An investigation of familiarisation.

Abstract

We studied the familiarisation time required to obtain reliable sagittal plane kinematics for the elbow and stifle joints in eleven treadmill-naïve greyhounds trotting on a treadmill. Motion analysis software was used to measure sagittal elbow and stifle joint movements and to calculate joint angular velocities. After a two minute walking initiation period, the dogs trotted for two and a half minutes. Three trials of three seconds(27 to 30, 72 to 75 and 117 to 120 seconds) trotting,each comprising four complete strides, were analysed.The angle versus time and angular velocity versustime graphs were plotted. For each stride, angular velocity and angular velocity data at key points during the gait cycle were recorded. These angles corresponded with the flexion and extension angles and the peak angular velocities of the elbow and stifle joints during stance and swing phase. Reliable elbow and stifle joint kinematics were obtained within 30 seconds oft rotting, which did not differ significantly over the two minute test period indicating that the dogs had familiarised to the treadmill.