Effects of acceleration on ground reaction forces collected in healthy dogs at a trot

The aim of this study was to assess, whether or not, visual grading of chan ges in subject acceleration during force plate collection within a fixed. m easured velocity range was adequate to control acceleration/deceleration. a second question was, whether or not, visual grading of the trials was adeq uate to prevent significant changes in ground reaction forces within a cont rolled velocity range. Eight healthy, non-chondrodysplastic dogs, of varyin g breeds, were used in the study. Each dog was tested in four different pro tocols. The order in which the dogs completed the different protocols was d etermined randomly. During all of the protocols, the dogs trotted across th e measured testing area within a velocity range of 1.6 to 1.9 m/s. The prot ocols varied in the amount of acceleration or deceleration allowed in the t esting area and the methods of evaluating the acceleration or deceleration. Significant differences in ground reaction force measurements were found, with variations in the acceleration and deceleration. The majority of chang es were found in the craniocaudal axis during acceleration and deceleration . Vertical axis measurements were only altered in the rear limbs. Significa nt differences were not found in any measurement (except the: stance phase duration in the rear limb) between the mechanically controlled minimal acce leration/deceleration variation protocol and the visually controlled accele ration/deceleration variation protocol. While visual observation was unable to consistently differentiate acceleration, or deceleration, changes throu gh the testing area, it was able to eliminate enough variation in ground re action force measurements so that differences were not found between the me chanically controlled minimal acceleration/deceleration variation protocol nor the visually controlled acceleration/deceleration variation protocol. T hese results suggest that either method of collection may be acceptable for data collection depending upon the type of study bring performed.