Veterinary Student University of Georgia Winterville
The objective of this study was to apply a three-dimensional kinematic model to the canine thoracic limb using a joint coordinate system. The study population included 6 clinically normal adult mixed-breed dogs. Each dog had 19 retroreflective markers affixed to the skin of the right forelimb. Twelve infrared cameras were arranged in a circle around the testing space, recording the locations of the markers as dogs walked and trotted through the testing space. Five trials were used of both walks and trots at velocities 0.9 to 1.2 m/s and 1.7 to 2.1 m/s respectively. Raw marker location data was used to generate a joint coordinate system, and a six-degrees of freedom model of the canine forelimb was created. Three-dimensional kinematic angles were collected for the shoulder, elbow, and carpal joints. Sagittal, transverse, and frontal plane kinematics joint angles were generated by use of a joint coordinate system. Range of motion was calculated for each joint in all three planes. This minimally invasive JCS model can be used in both clinical and research settings to determine changes in range of motion of the shoulder, elbow or carpus in the canine forelimb in three dimensions.
