Force plate analysis of ground reaction forces in relation to gait velocity of healthy Beagles.

Objective: To evaluate changes in ground reaction forces (GRFs) in relation to gait velocity using 2 force plates (FPs) for healthy Beagles.

Animals: 18 healthy Beagles were included (body weight, 10.45 ± 1.28 kg; age, 26 ± 11 months).

Procedures: Ten GRF parameters were measured at three gait velocities (walk, 0.9 to 1.2 m/s; trot 1, 1.6 to 2.0 m/s; and trot 2, 2.1 to 2.5 m/s): peak lateral force (PLF), peak medial force (PMF), lateral impulse (LI), medial impulse (MI), peak propulsive force (PPF), peak braking force (PBF), propulsive impulse (PI), braking impulse (BI), peak vertical force (PVF), and vertical impulse (VI).

Results: As velocity increased, the PVF of all limbs increased, the VI of all limbs decreased, and the PPF of the forelimbs increased. At all velocities, PBF and BI were significantly higher than the PPF and PI in forelimbs; however, PBF and BI were significantly lower than the PPF and PI in hindlimbs. There were no significant differences in the PLF, PMF, LI, and MI of the forelimbs and hindlimbs among all velocities. The PLF was significantly higher than the PMF of forelimbs during trot 1 and trot 2.

Clinical Relevance: These results may be useful when comparing healthy Beagles with diseased ones when premorbid data are not available. Because the forelimbs are mainly responsible for the braking force, it is suggested that weight bearing is more stable in the forelimbs than in the hindlimbs, which are mainly responsible for the propulsive force, and that a greater force is generated laterally than medially during trot.