Ratio fore/hind

The velocity average is 0.67 0.22 m/s. No significant differences between the left and right forelimbs or the left and right hind limbs for all of the parameters. The ratio fore/hind limbs of the number of sensors is approximately one. 

Keywords— Cat, pressure walkway, gait analysis, GAITRite system, ratio fore/hind. 

The system allows the simultaneous collect of the spatio-temporal and pressure data, for each four paws on consecutive strides. Data include stride time, stance time, relative stance time (stance time/stride time), stride length, peak vertical pressure, mean number of activated sensors (surface of the foot print) by each paw and walking velocity. Symmetry left/right and stance distribution (ratio fore/hind limb) are also estimated. 

But in the previous study of LeQuang et al. 2009 using the pressure walkway, which very similar to the one used in this study, for healthy large-breed dog, the ratio fore/hind limb of stance time relative and peak vertical pressure were 1.10 and 1.47, respectively [4]. In another report using the pressure walkway also in normal Greyhound, this ratio for peak vertical force was 1.38 [5] and for the healthy sheep, body weight distribution was 59% for the forelimb [7]. The stance distribution in cat was less importance than in dog and sheep. 

In addition to the data/parameters collected directly by GAITRite , we calcnlated for all the parameters the ratio of the fore/hind limbs and the symmetry of left/right limbs left/right forelimbs and left/right hind limbs. 

The fore/hind limb ratio of stance time was 1.07 (SD 0.07) for large breed dogs and 1.12 (SD 0.17) for Beagles, this ratio for relative stance time was 1.08 (SD 0.05) for Retrievers and 1.15 (SD 0.14) for small-breed. The fore/hind limb ratio for... 

Fig. 1 The fore/hind limb ratio of the spatio-temporal parameters, the peak vertical pressure and the number of activated sensors of healthy large-breed adult and small-breed adult dogs at walk...

The values of fore/hind limb ratio in both groups showed a more significant distribution on the forelimb rather than... 

The ratio of fore/hind limb of the stance time was 1.07 (SD) for the large-breed. This result was slightly higher than ratio calculated from previous studies of Bockstahler (2007) and Hottinger (1996) 1.04 and 1.03, respectively. 

The fore/hind Umb ratio of maximal pressure was 1.60 (SD) for large dogs. Our values in large dogs were higher than the recent reports in healthy large-breed dogs were 1.38 [1] or 1.42 [15] or 1.46 for system platform and 1.38 for system pressure mat [6]. But this value in our study was similar to result 1.61 of Bockstahler (2007) [8]. 

Comparison of fore/hind Umb ratio showed a significant difference between both sized groups for the stance time, relative stance time, and peak of pressure. And it seemed almost significantly different for the number of activated sensors. The forelimbs of small-breed adult dogs presented a fore/hind hmbs distribution with less pressure (1.45/1.60) on forelimbs, but longer stance time (1.15/1.08) than the large-breed dogs, at walk. 

To the author s knowledge, it has never been demonstrated before. Fore/hind Umb ratio could be interesting to assess front or hind limb lameness but needs to be compared with same sized healthy dogs. 

The fore/hind limb ratio could be significantly modified with the size of the dog and needs to be taken into accoimt for various sized dog gait analysis. This preliminary stody needs to be followed by the estabUshment of a specific database for each breed and size. 

As already pnblished, every lameness induces a modification of the symmetric pattern of the gait and according to this stody, the rise of the left/right Umb symmetry and fore/hind limb ratio conld help the clinician not only to determine and qnaUly the lameness bnt also allow reliable and accurate follow-up. 

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