# Objective evaluation of gait abnormalities in dogs with a thoracolumbar myelopathy using a pressure-sensing walkway

## TL;DR

This study shows that pressure-sensing walkways can objectively measure gait issues in dogs with spinal cord injuries, offering a more reliable alternative to subjective assessments.

## Contribution

The study introduces pressure-sensing walkways as a standardized, objective method for evaluating gait in dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy.

## Key findings

- Dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy showed significantly higher coefficient of variation (CV) in gait parameters compared to healthy controls.
- Lateral skewness, limb force distribution, and symmetry index differed significantly between affected and healthy dogs.
- A negative correlation was found between the Texas Spinal Cord Injury Score and CV, suggesting CV as a potential objective impairment measure.

## Abstract

Objective gait assessment remains essential for evaluating ambulatory function in dogs with spinal cord injury, as subjective scales depend on training and examiner experience, limiting their sensitivity to subtle changes. A rapid, standardised, and objective method is therefore needed to assess gait abnormalities and to monitor recovery over time. This study evaluates the use of a pressure-sensing walkway to objectively quantify gait characteristics in dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy compared to healthy controls. By analysing spatio-temporal and kinetic parameters, key differences relevant to clinical monitoring were identified. Significant differences in standard deviation values were observed between controls and dogs affected by thoracolumbar myelopathy for step/stride ratio, stance phase and swing phase. Furthermore, the coefficient of variation (CV) also differed significantly between groups for step/stride ratio, stance and swing phase. CV, a marker for ataxia, was increased not only in the pelvic but also in the thoracic limbs. Lateral skewness, thoracic limb force distribution, and pelvic limb symmetry index also differed significantly between groups, with neurologically affected dogs exhibiting higher values across all parameters. In addition, a negative correlation between the Texas Spinal Cord Injury Score and the CV was identified, indicating that the CV may contribute to an objective quantification of impairment. These findings support the use of pressure-sensing walkways as a feasible and informative modality for the standardised assessment of canine patients with thoracolumbar myelopathy.