A force plate and display system for studying ground reaction forces in dogs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary biomechanics
• Animal locomotion analysis
• Biomedical engineering

Background:

• Accurate measurement of ground reaction forces (GRF) is crucial for understanding canine ambulation.
• Existing systems can be costly and complex, limiting accessibility for research and clinical applications.
• Developing a low-cost, user-friendly system is essential for broader adoption in veterinary science.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement an economical system for measuring vertical and horizontal ground reaction forces in dogs.
• To assess both normal and abnormal gaits (walking and trotting) in canine subjects.
• To provide a reliable tool for quantitative analysis of canine locomotion.

Main Methods:

• A floor-mounted force plate system utilizing orthogonally mounted strain gauges to capture vertical and horizontal forces.
• Signal conditioning via a bridge amplifier, followed by analog-to-digital conversion.
• Data acquisition and visualization using a custom graphical user interface (GUI) on a Macintosh computer, with options for monitoring gait timing and foot strike fidelity.

Main Results:

• Successful development and implementation of a low-cost GRF measurement system.
• The system accurately captures vertical and horizontal forces during canine locomotion.
• Generated data is stored in raw signal format and can be analyzed and exported to a spreadsheet for further investigation.

Conclusions:

• The developed system offers a cost-effective solution for measuring canine ground reaction forces.
• It provides a valuable tool for objective assessment of normal and abnormal ambulation in dogs.
• This technology has the potential to advance research and clinical diagnostics in veterinary orthopedics and neurology.