Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and debilitating condition in domestic dogs. Alongside pharmaceutical interventions and weight loss, exercise and physiotherapy (PT) are important measures in maintaining patient mobility and quality of life. Physiotherapy for OA aims to reduce pain, optimize muscular function and maintain joint function. Physiotherapeutic plans typically include PT exercises combined with therapeutic modalities, lifestyle and environmental modifications to improve the patient’s overall quality of life and function. Information on therapeutic clinical efficacy of physiotherapeutic measures for canine OA is still very limited. Thus, physiotherapeutic strategies are still primarily based on evidence extrapolated from human protocols tailored to people with OA. The authors propose a simple systematic PT approach for canine OA, prioritizing measures according to simplicity, cost effectiveness and practicality. This guide (the “Physiotherapy Pyramid”) aims to provide a clear stratified approach to simplify decision making and planning for owners, veterinarians and veterinary physiotherapists, leading to more straightforward design and implementation of treatment plans. Measures are implemented starting at the base of the pyramid, subsequently progressing to the top, allowing effective and practical interventions to be prioritized. The levels of the pyramid are in ascending order: environmental modification, exercise plan, OA-specific home exercises and treatment by a veterinary physiotherapist.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to compare the accuracy of kinematic measurements obtained using the 2-D video-based kinematic motion analysis (KMA) software Kinovea (version 0.9.5; http://www.kinovea.org) with 3-D KMA in healthy dogs. METHODS: In this prospective study, 3-D marker–based KMA (VICON-Nexus, version 2.12.1, and Procalc, version 1.6; VICON Motion Systems Ltd) was performed on healthy dogs (body weight ≥ 20 kg; height at withers > 50 cm) walking on a treadmill (study period: November 2022). Simultaneously, dogs were video recorded by 1 smartphone (iPhone SE; Apple Inc) at a 1.50-m distance perpendicular to the shoulder (60 frames per second; 1,920 X 1,080 pixels) for KMA using Kinovea. Joint angle and joint angle velocity of the shoulder, elbow, carpus, hip, stifle, and tarsus were calculated for 6 synchronized gait cycles. Each gait cycle was divided into 10 increments. The difference between 3-D KMA and Kinovea was assessed for each parameter using robust linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: 34 dogs were included. The estimated joint angle difference between 3-D KMA and Kinovea was less than 2° for all shoulder and elbow gait cycle increments. For the carpus, hip, stifle, and tarsus, the difference was less than 2° in 9, 5, 4, and 4 out of 10 gait cycle increments, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Kinovea provides accurate kinematic data for the shoulder and elbow of healthy dogs. Carpal, hip, stifle, and tarsal kinematics were less accurate. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of Kinovea for clinical and research purposes remains limited. Future Kinovea-based studies are needed to investigate the accuracy of carpal, hip, stifle, and tarsal kinematics.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of recording angle on the accuracy of 2-D Kinovea-based kinematic motion analysis (KMA) compared to 3-D KMA in dogs. METHODS: In this prospective study, 3-D marker-based KMA (VICON-Nexus, version 2.12.1, and Procalc, version 1.6; VICON Motion Systems Ltd) was performed on healthy dogs (body weight ≥ 20 kg) walking on a treadmill (study period: November 2022). Simultaneously, dogs were video-recorded by 3 smartphones (iPhone SE; Apple Inc) at 1.50 m distance and 45°, 90°, and 135° recording angles relative to the shoulder for Kinovea-based, angle-calibrated KMA. Shoulder, elbow, carpal, hip, stifle, and tarsal joint kinematics were calculated for 3 synchronized gait cycles. Each gait cycle was divided into 10 increments. The estimated difference between 3-D KMA and Kinovea was assessed using robust linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: 34 dogs were included. Differences of less than 5° between methods were considered reasonable. At a 45° recording angle, the estimated joint angle difference was < 5° for the carpus and hip during ≥ 5 of 10 gait cycle increments. At 90°, the difference was < 5° across all joints for ≥ 9 of 10 increments and at 135° was < 5° for the elbow, carpus, and hip for ≥ 7 of 10 increments. CONCLUSIONS: Kinovea-based kinematics were most accurate when recorded at 90°. At 45°, Kinovea provided accurate data for the carpus and hip and at 135° for the elbow, carpus, and hip. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: While angle-calibrated kinematic measurements can be accurate when using Kinovea for canine KMA, a 90° recording angle is preferable.

Objective: To evaluate the repeatability and test-retest reliability of dynamic center of pressure (COP) parameters in healthy cats walking on a pressure-sensitive treadmill. Methods: Healthy client-owned cats (n = 10) and cats housed at the Chair of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics (5) were enrolled from December 2019 through June 2021. Cats walked on a pressure-sensitive treadmill system (FDM-T-CanidGait; zebris Medical GmbH) at an individually adapted velocity. For each time point, 3 sequences of 5 valid step cycles/cat were analyzed. Center of pressure parameters were calculated paw-wise, including path length, mean velocity, mediolateral and craniocaudal displacement, and the area of the 95% confidence ellipse. Measurements were repeated within 2 weeks. Data were analyzed using a robust linear mixed-effects model and estimated marginal means. Results: COP path length decreased significantly in the forelimbs between time points (mean difference, 0.17 cm [5.3%]; small to moderate effect size) in cats with a mean age of 4.2 ± 1.8 years and weighing 4.8 ± 0.8 kg. In the hind limbs, COP velocity increased (−0.19 cm/s [−2.8%]; small effect size). Craniocaudal displacement decreased in the hind limbs (1.42%; small to moderate effect size). All other parameters did not change significantly. Conclusions: COP parameters demonstrated good test-retest reliability and repeatability in healthy cats. The observed changes likely reflect subtle adaptation, but further research is needed to evaluate learning effects in different feline populations. Clinical Relevance: COP measurements obtained during treadmill walking may serve as a reliable tool for assessing gait stability and postural control in cats.