title: Force plate for measuring the ground reaction forces in small animal locomotion.
abstract: The importance of kinetic force plate studies of locomotion in small animals has grown recently with the increasing use of rodent models for studies of musculoskeletal diseases. However, the force plates for use with animals much smaller than a cat are difficult to design and use. Here we present data on a commercially available small force plate that accurately collects whole-body and, in a modified form, single-limb ground reaction forces in mice. The method used here is convenient, inexpensive, and readily adaptable for use with a variety of small species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3170, Durham, NC 27710, USA. azumwalt@duke.edu <azumwalt@duke.edu>
authors.forename: Ann C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Zumwalt
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamrick
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmitt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003625:Data Collection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005552:Forelimb / Q000502:physiology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009142:Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; D010827:Physiology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*