EFFECTS OF INCREASING VELOCITY ON BRAKING AND PROPULSION TIMES DURINGFORCE PLATE GAIT ANALYSIS IN GREYHOUNDS

The percentage of limb contact time spent in braking and propulsion wa s determined for the forelimbs and hind limbs of Greyhounds at 2 walk speeds and 3 trot speeds. Limb contact times decreased significantly ( P < 0.05) as velocity increased between each velocity range. At a slow walk (0.92 to 1.03 m/s), braking and propulsion were 56.1 and 43.6% o f contact time in the forelimbs and 41.6 and 58.1% of contact time in the hind limbs, respectively. At a fast walk (1.06 to 1.17 m/s), braki ng and propulsion were 56.7 and 43.5% of contact time in the forelimbs and 41.5 and 58.4% of contact time in the hind limbs, respectively. T here was no significant difference in the percentage of contact time t hat the forelimbs and hind limbs spent in braking and propulsion betwe en the 2 walk velocities. At the slow trot (1.5 to 1.8 m/s), braking a nd propulsion were 56.8 and 43% of contact time in the forelimbs and 3 0.1 and 67.6% of contact time in the hind limbs, respectively. At the medium trot (2.1 to 2.4 m/s), braking and propulsion were 55.9 and 43. 5% of contact time in the forelimbs and 33.8 and 63.2% of contact time in the kind limbs, respectively. At the fast trot (2.7 to 3.0 mis), b raking and propulsion were 57.2 and 43% of contact time in the forelim bs and 37.5 and 61.1% of contact time in the hind limbs, respectively. Braking percentage increased and propulsive percentage decreased sign ificantly (P < 0.05) in the hind limbs between the slow and fast trot speeds. There was no significant difference in the percentage of forel imb contact time spent in braking and propulsion between the walk and the trot gaits or among the 3 trot velocities.