A comparison of two-dimensional and three-dimensional techniques for the determination of hindlimb kinematics during treadmill locomotion in rats following spinal cord injury.
Of all the detrimental effects of spinal cord injury (SCI), one of the most devastating effects is the disruption of the ability to walk. Therefore, much effort has been focused on developing several methods to document the recovery of locomotor function after experimental SCI. Computerized rat gait analysis is becoming increasingly popular in the SCI research community. The two-dimensional (2D) kinematic approach is by far the most popular technique in rat gait analysis. This is a simple inexpensive procedure, which requires only one camera to record the movement. Our study included an examination of locomotion on a treadmill using 2D and three-dimensional (3D) analysis, in neurologically intact animals and following moderate T9 contusion injury. Despite the overall time course patterns of the curves were identical, we found significant differences between values of the 2D and 3D joint angular motion. In conclusion, maximal precision and accuracy of the kinematic values are expected when the experimental protocol includes a 3D motion analysis methodology. Moreover, a 2D method cannot be used to determine the external or internal rotations of the foot because this movement occurs in the transverse plane.
Couto
Pedro A
PA
Department of Engineering, CITAB, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, P.O. Box 1013, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
Filipe
Vítor M
VM
Magalhães
Luís G
LG
Pereira
José E
JE
Costa
Luís M
LM
Melo-Pinto
Pedro
P
Bulas-Cruz
José
J
Maurício
Ana C
AC
Geuna
Stefano
S
Varejão
Artur S P
AS
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007596:Joints / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D010243:Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods