title: The evaluation of limb symmetry indices using ground reaction forces collected with one or two force plates in healthy dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the variability of symmetry indices within and between days when using one and two force plates for data collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen healthy client-owned adult dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vertical ground reaction force data were collected in a crossover study design, with four collection sessions on two consecutive days, and then two weeks apart (days 1, 2, 15, and 16) using both 1-plate and 2-plate collection methods. Symmetry indices were calculated for limb pairs using two standard equations (SI1 and SI2). Repeated measures analysis was used to compare symmetry indices data between plate systems and days. Significance was set at p <0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between plate systems for SI1 and SI2. There were no significant differences between data collected on different days and no significant interaction effects between variables. Symmetry indices were consistently larger for ground reaction forces calculated from non-consecutive footfalls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of two force plate systems will minimize variance caused by trial repetition and paired limb variation. When comparing SI1 to SI2, results were not significantly different. However, there were consistently higher mean values for SI1 compared with SI2 and symmetry indices were consistently larger for 1-plate systems compared to 2-plate systems for both symmetry indices.
authors.affiliation: Nicola Volstad BVSc(Hons), University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, 220 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30602-000, United States, E-mail: nicola.volstad25@uga.edu.
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Volstad
authors.forename: Gabby
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robb
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Budsberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D005121:Extremities / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005684:Gait
keywords: Symmetry indices; dog; force plate; ground reaction forces