Objective: The aim of this study was to apply a three-dimensional kinematic model to the canine thoracic limb using a joint coordinate system.
Animals: Six clinically normal adult mixed-breed dogs.
Procedures: Dogs had 19 retroreflective markers affixed to the skin of the right forelimb. Twelve infrared cameras were arranged in a circle around the testing space, recording the locations of the markers as dogs walked and trotted through the testing space. Five trials were used of both walks and trots at velocities 0.9 to 1.2 m/s and 1.7 to 2.1 m/s respectively. Raw marker location data were used to generate a joint coordinate system, and a six degrees of freedom model of the canine forelimb was created. Three-dimensional kinematic angles were collected for the shoulder, elbow and carpal joints.
Results: Sagittal, transverse and frontal plane kinematics joint angles were generated by use of a joint coordinate system. Range of motion was calculated for each joint in all three planes.
Conclusion and clinical relevance: This minimally invasive joint coordinate system model can be used in both clinical and research settings to determine changes in range of motion of the shoulder, elbow or carpus in the canine forelimb in three dimensions.
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