CCAT Gait Analysis and Locomotion 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a reduced peak vertical force (PVF) on a force plate analysis indicate about the tested limb?
- Increased muscle mass in that limb
- Normal gait symmetry
- Reduced weight bearing consistent with lameness (Correct answer)
- Improved proprioception in that limb
Correct answer: Reduced weight bearing consistent with lameness
Reduced PVF indicates the animal is offloading the affected limb, which is a hallmark objective finding of lameness or pain.
Question 2: What is the primary advantage of an underwater treadmill over a land treadmill for gait rehabilitation and analysis?
- Higher achievable speeds
- Reduced joint loading due to buoyancy (Correct answer)
- More accurate ground reaction force measurement
- Better assessment of proprioceptive deficits
Correct answer: Reduced joint loading due to buoyancy
Water buoyancy reduces effective body weight, decreasing joint compressive forces while allowing weight-bearing gait training and assessment.
Question 3: What is 'crabbing' in canine gait?
- Unilateral forelimb lameness causing a head-bob
- Lateral displacement of the hindquarters relative to the forequarters (Correct answer)
- Excessive hip extension during the push-off phase
- Abnormal stifle flexion during the swing phase
Correct answer: Lateral displacement of the hindquarters relative to the forequarters
Crabbing (sidewinding) occurs when the dog's hindquarters are offset to one side of the forelimb track, indicating a conformational or neurological problem.
Question 4: Which gait assessment technology uses a pressure-sensitive walkway surface to capture paw contact patterns and force distribution?
- Kinematic motion capture system
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Pressure walkway (e.g., Tekscan) (Correct answer)
- Diagnostic ultrasonography
Correct answer: Pressure walkway (e.g., Tekscan)
Pressure-sensitive walkways capture spatial and temporal gait parameters along with paw pressure distribution as the animal walks across the mat.
Question 5: What does 'cadence' refer to in canine gait analysis?
- Speed of locomotion in meters per second
- Number of steps taken per unit of time (Correct answer)
- Length of each stride in centimeters
- Width between the left and right stance limbs
Correct answer: Number of steps taken per unit of time
Cadence refers to the number of steps or strides taken per unit of time (typically steps per minute), reflecting the tempo of gait.
Question 6: In neurological patients, what gait abnormality is characterized by exaggerated limb flexion and overshooting during the swing phase, often associated with cerebellar dysfunction?
- Spasticity
- Proprioceptive ataxia
- Hypermetria (Correct answer)
- Hypometria
Correct answer: Hypermetria
Hypermetria is an exaggerated range of motion during limb movement caused by cerebellar dysfunction, resulting in high-stepping or overshooting gait.
Question 7: Which gait asymmetry finding on video analysis would most strongly suggest a weight-bearing hindlimb lameness?
- Head nodding upward when the lame hindlimb contacts the ground
- Hip hiking (elevation of the pelvis) on the lame side during swing (Correct answer)
- Head nodding downward when the lame hindlimb contacts the ground
- Increased stride length on the contralateral forelimb
Correct answer: Hip hiking (elevation of the pelvis) on the lame side during swing
Hip hiking, where the pelvis elevates on the affected side during swing phase, is a compensatory strategy to advance a painful or weak hindlimb.
CCAT Gait Analysis and Locomotion 2
What does a reduced peak vertical force (PVF) on a force plate analysis indicate about the tested limb?