Effect of exercise on kinetic gait analysis of dogs afflicted by osteoarthritis

Abstract

Summary Objective: To evaluate the effects of moderate exercise on kinetic gait analysis using a force platform in dogs with hindlimb lameness due to osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Ten control dogs (Control) and 10 dogs presented with chronic and stable hind-limb lameness (OA) were recruited. Dogs were subjected to force platform gait analysis to determine baseline data. They were thereafter trotted for a distance of 1.2 km on a short leash, lead by the same handler at a gait convenient for each of them (ranging from slow to fast trot), after which the gait analysis was immediately repeated to determine post-exercise values. Peak and impulse of the vertical and braking / propulsion forces were analysed using a linear model for repeated measures and Bonferroni sequential correction. Results: In the Control group, the differences between baseline and post-exercise data were not significant. Conversely, post-exercise peak (p = 0.020) and impulse (p = 0.009) values of the vertical force, as well as the peak of the propulsion force (p = 0.009) values were significantly lower than baseline in the OA group. Clinical relevance: This study demonstrates the significant effect of a moderate amount of exercise in exacerbating hindlimb lameness in dogs clinically afflicted by OA. It is suggested that: 1) exercise should be considered as a potential factor of variation in future force platform gait analyses and an effort should be made to limit bias in data recording; and 2) an exercise-based protocol could be added to the standard force platform gait analysis to potentially increase its sensitivity in the detection of lame dogs.