# Physical Activity Monitors in Companion Animal Chronic Pain Research—A Review Focused on Osteoarthritis Pain

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how physical activity monitors can help study chronic pain in pets, especially osteoarthritis, by tracking movement data.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of technical and biological factors in using PAMs for companion animal chronic pain research.

## Key findings

- PAMs can objectively measure movement and pain-related changes in companion animals.
- Device differences and biological factors like age and body condition affect PAM data interpretation.
- PAMs have potential for future veterinary chronic pain studies but require better understanding for optimal use.

## Abstract

Movement and mobility are critical components of living, and so quality of life, for all animals, including pet dogs and cats. Many chronic pain conditions affect dogs and cats, and this pain can negatively affect movement and activities. Physical activity monitors (PAMs) are devices that can capture objective data on movement and thus have the potential to tell us about the impact of pain on movement and mobility and about strategies employed to reduce pain. However, in order to optimally use PAMs, researchers need to understand both device technology and biological influences. This review discusses the technical and biological considerations when applying PAMs to companion animal chronic pain research, in particular osteoarthritis pain research. It also provides an overview of use of these devices in veterinary chronic pain research thus far, and the potential of these devices in future studies.

Accelerometry-based physical activity monitors (PAMs) are a useful tool to collect objective measurements of physical activity and movement. Recently, there has been an increased utilization of PAMs in companion animal chronic pain research. However, a general lack of understanding of PAMs contributes to challenges and misconceptions around the interpretation and utility of these data. Commercially available devices differ in how they acquire, process, report, and, in some cases, interpret data. Furthermore, various factors relating to the subject, such as age, body condition, and species, clearly influence PAM data, and on top of this, understanding the biological meaning of PAM data is in its relative infancy. This review examines the principles of PAM technology and the technical and biological considerations when applying PAMs to companion animal chronic pain research, in particular osteoarthritis pain research. It also provides an overview of applications of these devices in veterinary chronic pain research thus far, and the potential of these devices in future studies.