Front Matter

Chapter 2 Locomotion and Athletic Performance 39

determined reference values and symmetry
ratios for various breeds (Webster et al., 2005;
Lascelles et al., 2006; Gordon‐Evans et al., 2009;
Light et al., 2010;).

Pressure‐sensing walkway measurement

systems objectively analyze gait data quickly

and provide several temporal (timing) and

spatial (distance) gait parameters (Table 2.4).

Temporal (timing) gait analysis is the assess-

ment of average velocities of the various gaits

as well as time durations for the two phases of

gait for each leg: the stance phase and the swing

phase. The stance phase is the weight‐bearing

portion of each gait cycle. It is initiated by cen-

tral pad contact and ends when the toe of the

same foot lifts off the mat. The swing phase is

the non‐weight‐bearing portion of each gait

cycle, during which the foot is in the air.

Spatial (distance) gait analysis is the assess-

ment of the progression of gait. Two commonly

assessed spatial parameters are stride length

and step length. Stride length is measured on

the line of progression between the central pad

points of two consecutive footprints of the same

foot (e.g., left front foot to left front foot). Step

length is the distance between the central pad

point of one foot to the central pad point of the

contralateral foot (e.g., the left front foot to the

right front foot).

150

140

130

Angle (degrees)

Stance phase Swing phase 0 Stance phase Swing phase

–10

–20

–30

120 Angle (degrees)

110

0102030405060

Gait cycle (percent)

70 80 90 100 0102030405060

Gait cycle (percent)

70 80 90 100

Stance phase Swing phase

–25

–30

–15

–20

Angle (degrees)

0102030405060

Gait cycle (percent)

70 80 90 100

Figure 2.19 Kinematic report showing the angles of excursion of the hip joint in a trotting dog in the sagittal (flexion‐
extension; top left), transverse (internal‐external rotation; top right), and frontal (abduction‐adduction; bottom) planes.
Source: Adapted from Fu et al., 2010.

Table 2.4 Temporospatial gait analysis parameters

Temporal (timing) gait

parameters

Spatial (distance) gait

parameters

Gait cycle time is the

elapsed time between

the first contacts of two

consecutive footfalls of the

same foot, measured in

seconds (s)

Stance time is the time

elapsed between the first

contact and the last contact

of one identified foot,

expressed in seconds (s)

Stride time is the time

elapsed between the first

contacts of two consecutive

footfalls of the same foot,

measured in seconds (s)

Stride length is measured

on the line of progression

between the heel points

of two consecutive foot-

prints of the same foot

(e.g., left front foot to left

front foot)

Step length is the dis-

tance between the heel

point of one foot to the

heel point of the contra-

lateral foot (e.g., left front

foot to the right front

foot)