Force plate analysis – a noninvasive tool for gait evaluation

By Anderson, M. A. and Mann, F. A., Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 1994
Research Paper Web Link / URL:
Description
The study of motion in animals is known as kinesiology. Kinematic and kinetic forms of gait analysis have been used to measure normal and abnormal gait. No single system of gait analysis provides all the information required to evaluate the complex nature of locomotion; however, force plate analysis provides an easy, noninvasive, and objective method of evaluating gait via measurement of ground reaction forces. The major limitation of force plate analysis is the inability to measure successive events during locomotion. Other methods of gait analysis provide additional information and can be used in conjunction with force plate analysis to provide a more complete evaluation of locomotion. Force plates have been used to evaluate a variety of orthopedic diseases in humans, horses, dogs, cats, and cattle. Force plate analysis provides veterinary orthopedic surgeons with the capability to objectively evaluate many forms of medical and surgical treatments of musculoskeletal disease. The cost of force plates, however, may prohibit the use of force plate analysis outside academic research institutions
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