Dataset Information

A Formalized Method to Acclimate Dogs to Voluntary Treadmill Locomotion at Various Speeds and Inclines.

ABSTRACT: The land treadmill is a multipurpose tool with a unique set of behavioral and physical benefits for training and assessing active dogs. Habituation to voluntary treadmill locomotion is crucial for training a dog or accurately assessing a dog's fitness on a treadmill. Therefore, a treadmill acclimation program was developed and evaluated with working dogs in training or working dogs performing detection research. Seven of eight naive dogs became acclimated to the treadmill using the protocol developed. Two previously experienced dogs successfully conducted an acclimation assessment to test for habituation to the treadmill. A muscle soreness protocol was created to evaluate the soreness developed during the acclimation program. This detailed protocol was successful in acclimating dogs to the treadmill at various safe speeds and inclines.

SUBMITTER: Stigall AR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8908820 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A Formalized Method to Acclimate Dogs to Voluntary Treadmill Locomotion at Various Speeds and Inclines.

Stigall Alexander R AR Farr Brian D BD Ramos Meghan T MT Otto Cynthia M CM

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI 20220224 5

The land treadmill is a multipurpose tool with a unique set of behavioral and physical benefits for training and assessing active dogs. Habituation to voluntary treadmill locomotion is crucial for training a dog or accurately assessing a dog's fitness on a treadmill. Therefore, a treadmill acclimation program was developed and evaluated with working dogs in training or working dogs performing detection research. Seven of eight naive dogs became acclimated to the treadmill using the protocol deve ...[more]

PMID: 35268136

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Project description:A common approach in the biomechanical analysis of running technique is to average data from several gait cycles to compute a 'representative mean.' However, the impact of the quantity and selection of gait cycles on biomechanical measures is not well understood. We examined the effects of gait cycle selection on kinematic data by: (i) comparing representative means calculated from varying numbers of gait cycles to 'global' means from the entire capture period; and (ii) comparing representative means from varying numbers of gait cycles sampled from different parts of the capture period. We used a public dataset (n = 28) of lower limb kinematics captured during a 30-second period of treadmill running at three speeds (2.5 m s-1, 3.5 m s-1 and 4.5 m s-1). 'Ground truth' values were determined by averaging data across all collected strides and compared to representative means calculated from random samples (1,000 samples) of n (range = 5-30) consecutive gait cycles. We also compared representative means calculated from n (range = 5-15) consecutive gait cycles randomly sampled (1,000 samples) from within the same data capture period. The mean, variance and range of the absolute error of the representative mean compared to the 'ground truth' mean progressively reduced across all speeds as the number of gait cycles used increased. Similar magnitudes of 'error' were observed between the 2.5 m s-1 and 3.5 m s-1 speeds at comparable gait cycle numbers -where the maximum errors were < 1.5 degrees even with a small number of gait cycles (i.e., 5-10). At the 4.5 m s-1 speed, maximum errors typically exceeded 2-4 degrees when a lower number of gait cycles were used. Subsequently, a higher number of gait cycles (i.e., 25-30) was required to achieve low errors (i.e., 1-2 degrees) at the 4.5 m s-1 speed. The mean, variance and range of absolute error of representative means calculated from different parts of the capture period was consistent irrespective of the number of gait cycles used. The error between representative means was low (i.e., < 1.5 degrees) and consistent across the different number of gait cycles at the 2.5 m s-1 and 3.5 m s-1 speeds, and consistent but larger (i.e., up to 2-4 degrees) at the 4.5 m s-1 speed. Our findings suggest that selecting as many gait cycles as possible from a treadmill running bout will minimise potential 'error.' Analysing a small sample (i.e., 5-10 cycles) will typically result in minimal 'error' (i.e., < 2 degrees), particularly at lower speeds (i.e., 2.5 m s-1 and 3.5 m s-1). Researchers and clinicians should consider the balance between practicalities of collecting and analysing a smaller number of gait cycles against the potential 'error' when determining their methodological approach. Irrespective of the number of gait cycles used, we recommend that the potential 'error' introduced by the choice of gait cycle number be considered when interpreting the magnitude of effects in treadmill-based running studies.

Project description:BackgroundThe mechanics and energetics of spider locomotion have not been deeply investigated, despite their importance in the life of a spider. For example, the reproductive success of males of several species is dependent upon their ability to move from one area to another. The aim of this work was to describe gait patterns and analyze the gait parameters of Eupalaestrus weijenberghi (Araneae, Theraphosidae) in order to investigate the mechanics of their locomotion and the mechanisms by which they conserve energy while traversing different inclinations and surfaces.MethodsTarantulas were collected and marked for kinematic analysis. Free displacements, both level and on an incline, were recorded using glass and Teflon as experimental surfaces. Body segments of the experimental animals were measured, weighed, and their center of mass was experimentally determined. Through reconstruction of the trajectories of the body segments, we were able to estimate their internal and external mechanical work and analyze their gait patterns.ResultsSpiders mainly employed a walk-trot gait. Significant differences between the first two pairs and the second two pairs were detected. No significant differences were detected regarding the different planes or surfaces with respect to duty factor, time lags, stride frequency, and stride length. However, postural changes were observed on slippery surfaces. The mechanical work required for traversing a level plane was lower than expected. In all conditions, the external work, and within it the vertical work, accounted for almost all of the total mechanical work. The internal work was extremely low and did not rise as the gradient increased.DiscussionOur results support the idea of considering the eight limbs functionally divided into two quadrupeds in series. The anterior was composed of the first two pairs of limbs, which have an explorative and steering purpose and the posterior was more involved in supporting the weight of the body. The mechanical work to move one unit of mass a unit distance is almost constant among the different species tested. However, spiders showed lower values than expected. Minimizing the mechanical work could help to limit metabolic energy expenditure that, in small animals, is relatively very high. However, energy recovery due to inverted pendulum mechanics only accounts for only a small fraction of the energy saved. Adhesive setae present in the tarsal, scopulae, and claw tufts could contribute in different ways during different moments of the step cycle, compensating for part of the energetic cost on gradients which could also help to maintain constant gait parameters.

Dataset Information

A Formalized Method to Acclimate Dogs to Voluntary Treadmill Locomotion at Various Speeds and Inclines.

Publications

A Formalized Method to Acclimate Dogs to Voluntary Treadmill Locomotion at Various Speeds and Inclines.

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