Veterinary Student University of Georgia Winterville
Canine kinematic studies have been increasing over the last decade, with many studies focusing on joint flexion and extension in the sagittal plane. However, joint motion occurs in all three planes. The objective of the study was to compare a Joint Coordinate System (JCS) 3-D kinematic model of the canine forelimb with more widely used linear (LIN) and segmental (SEG) 2-D models. Nineteen markers were applied to the skin of dogs’ right forelimbs. Dogs were trotted and walked through the calibrated testing space. The first 5 good trials were used to generate sagittal plane waveforms from 3 different models for the shoulder, elbow and carpal joints. The JCS model also generated transverse and frontal plane joint angular data for all three joints. Total angular displacement was calculated for each joint. Comparison of sagittal plane waveforms was performed before and after waveform alignment using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Each model produced similar sagittal plane waveforms. After waveform alignment, no differences were found between models at a walk or trot. There were no differences in angular displacement measurements between models before or after waveform alignment at a walk or trot. The 3-D JCS model reported in this study produced sagittal plane waveforms comparable to conventional 2-D models while also providing joint specific information from other planes of motion.