J Vet Sci.  2017 Dec;18(4):521-530. 10.4142/jvs.2017.18.4.521.

Comparative kinematic gait analysis in young and old Beagle dogs

• Lorke M
• Willen M
• Lucas K
• Beyerbach
• Wefstaedt
• Murua Escobar H
• Nolte I

• KMID: 2398512
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2017.18.4.521

Abstract

Age-related involution in dogs involves loss of muscle mass and changes in connective tissue and articular cartilage. The aim of this study was to examine whether an age-related influence on joint mobility can be detected in the absence of disease. Five young (mean age 2.0 years) and five old (mean age 10.4 years) healthy and sound Beagle dogs underwent computer-assisted gait analysis during locomotion on a treadmill. Shoulder, elbow, carpal, hip, stifle, and tarsal joint angles including joint angle progression curves, minimum and maximum joint angles, and range of motion (ROM) in degrees were analyzed. The old group had a smaller maximum joint angle (p = 0.037) and ROM (p = 0.037) of the carpal joint; there were similar tendencies in the shoulder, elbow, and carpal joints. Descriptive analysis of the progression curves revealed less flexion and extension of the forelimb joints. The results indicate restricted joint mobility of the forelimb in old dogs, primarily of the carpal joint. Results in the joints of the hindlimb were inconsistent, and the contrasting alterations may be due to a compensatory mechanism. As most alterations were found in the distal joints, these should receive particular attention when examining elderly dogs.

Keyword

canine; geriatrics; joints; locomotion; range of motion

MeSH Terms

Aged
Animals
Carpal Joints
Cartilage, Articular
Connective Tissue
Dogs*
Elbow
Forelimb
Gait*
Geriatrics
Hindlimb
Hip
Humans
Joints
Locomotion
Range of Motion, Articular
Shoulder
Stifle
Tarsal Joints

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Positions of the retroreflective passive markers on a representative Beagle dog (A) and the processed kinematic rod model (B). (A) Positions of joint-determining markers (asterisks) and additional markers. A, cervicothoracic transition; B, margo dorsalis scapulae; C, thoracolumbar transition; D, crista iliaca ossis illi; E, os sacrum; F, trochanter major ossis femoris; G, tuber ischiadicum ossis illi; H, femur; I, epicondylus lateralis ossis femoris; J, tibia; K, malleolus lateralis fibulae; L, distal at os metatarsale quintum; M, distal at os metacarpale quintum; N, processus styloideus ulnae; O, radius; P, epicondylus lateralis humeri; Q, humerus; R, tuberculum majus humeri; S, scapula. (B) The joint-determining markers are framed in white and the calculated joint angles are marked and labeled. S, shoulder joint; H, hip joint; E, elbow joint; ST, stifle joint; C, carpal joint; T, tarsal joint.

• 

  Fig. 2 Joint angle progression curves. Comparative depiction of the standardized joint angle means ± SD in degrees in the progression of one stride for young (n = 5) and old (n = 5) Beagle dogs. The vertical dashed line marks the shift from the stance phase to the swing phase, located at exactly 50% of the stride through time normalization. Due to standardization, the horizontal zero line depicts the mean of the progression curve. Increasing values depict extension, decreasing values indicate flexion. The movement patterns are very similar in dogs with the same morphology and are specific for each joint and gait. Joint angles are projected in the sagittal plane and, therefore, are viewed from a lateral position.

• 

  Fig. 3 Comparative depiction of the standardized minimum joint angle in degrees (MIN; maximum flexion), maximum joint angle in degrees (MAX; maximum extension) and range of motion in degrees (ROM) of the various joints for young (n = 5) and old (n = 5) Beagle dogs. The means ± SD are depicted. *Statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.05). †Tendency toward statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.10).

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