Nonlinear Dynamic Stability of Normal and Arthritic Greyhounds

Abstract

In this paper the dynamic stability of greyhound gait was analyzed within the framework of nonlinear dynamics theory. A video based motion analysis system was utilized to obtain the kinematic data of the hindlimb joints of greyhounds at trot. Phase plane portraits and first return maps for the coxofemoral, femorotibial, and the tarsal joints were calculated from averaged kinematic data for each dog. The analysis was based on the assumption that the steady state dog locomotion could be represented as a nonlinear periodic system. Using the Floquet theory, the dynamic stability of gait was quantified by computing the characteristic multipliers from experimental data. A stability index based on multipliers was used for comparison between normal and arthritic dogs. Phase plane portraits and first return maps of the dogs with transient synovitis were compared with the averaged portraits of the normal dogs. It was observed that the coxofemoral angle exhibited the maximum difference while the femorotibial and the tarsal joints showed little or no difference from those of the normals. Comparison of the Floquet multipliers indicated that the dogs with synovitis had a less stable gait than that of the normal dogs.