title: Motion of the foot and ankle during the stance phase in rats.
abstract: Computerized analysis of rat gait is becoming an invaluable technique used by some peripheral nerve investigators for the evaluation of function. In this article we describe the use of a biomechanical model of the foot and ankle that allows a quantitative assessment and description of the ankle angle, reflecting plantarflexion and dorsiflexion during the stance phase of gait. Kinematic data of 144 trial walks from 36 normal rats were recorded with a high-speed digital image camera at 225 images per second. The ankle angular changes associated with the specific temporal events of foot placement on the ground through the stance phase were assessed. The information obtained was used to propose a new subdivision of the stance phase in the rat into three major components. This approach will provide a helpful research tool to analyze gait data that rely on the accurate determination of spatiotemporal foot events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Veterinary Clinics, CETAV, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal. avarejao@utad.pt
authors.forename: Artur S P
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Varejão
authors.forename: António M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cabrita
authors.forename: Marcel F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Meek
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bulas-Cruz
authors.forename: Ronaldo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: Vitor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Filipe
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Melo-Pinto
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Winter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D014741:Video Recording