The relationship between limb‐segment proportions and joint kinematics for the hind limbs of quadrupedal mammals

Film sequences were used to measure functional hind limb-segment proportions and joint angles at successive stages of walking strides for 22 species of quadrupedal mammals from five orders. Similar data were obtained from three trotting dogs. For each animal, nine Fourier series coefficients describing the movement of each of the hip, hock and ankle joints were obtained. Multivariate statistical analysis of these coefficients revealed that animals with similar limb-segment proportions move their joints in similar ways. However, it should be noted that animals with similar leg-segment proportions also tended to be phylogenetically related. Most of the discriminatory power was between animals of different stances (plantigrade, digitigrade or unguligrade) and between walking and trotting.

[1]  B. Jayne,et al.  Size matters: ontogenetic variation in the three-dimensional kinematics of steady-speed locomotion in the lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis. , 2000, The Journal of experimental biology.

[2]  S. Larson,et al.  Uniqueness of primate forelimb posture during quadrupedal locomotion. , 2000, American journal of physical anthropology.

[3]  M. Fischer,et al.  Cineradiographic study of forelimb movements during quadrupedal walking in the brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus, Primates: Lemuridae). , 2000, American journal of physical anthropology.

[4]  S. Reilly,et al.  Locomotion in the quail (Coturnix japonica): the kinematics of walking and increasing speed , 2000, Journal of morphology.

[5]  S. Reilly,et al.  Locomotion in alligator mississippiensis: kinematic effects of speed and posture and their relevance to the sprawling-to-erect paradigm , 1998, The Journal of experimental biology.

[6]  Fieler.  Effects of speed on the hindlimb kinematics of the lizard dipsosaurus dorsalis , 1998, The Journal of experimental biology.

[7]  S. Reilly,et al.  Sprawling locomotion in the lizard Sceloporus clarkii: the effects of speed on gait, hindlimb kinematics, and axial bending during walking , 1997 .

[8]  S. Reilly,et al.  Sprawling locomotion in the lizard Sceloporus clarkii: quantitative kinematics of a walking trot , 1997, The Journal of experimental biology.

[9]  M. Illert,et al.  Kinematic Analysis of the Cat Shoulder Girdle during Treadmill Locomotion: an X‐ray Study , 1996, The European journal of neuroscience.

[10]  R. Alexander,et al.  Characteristics of ground reaction forces in normal and chimpanzee-like bipedal walking by humans. , 1996, Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology.

[11]  Ashley-Ross,et al.  METAMORPHIC AND SPEED EFFECTS ON HINDLIMB KINEMATICS DURING TERRESTRIAL LOCOMOTION IN THE SALAMANDER DICAMPTODON TENEBROSUS , 1994, The Journal of experimental biology.

[12]  Ashley-Ross.  HINDLIMB KINEMATICS DURING TERRESTRIAL LOCOMOTION IN A SALAMANDER (DICAMPTODON TENEBROSUS) , 1994, The Journal of experimental biology.

[13]  M. Fischer.  Crouched posture and high fulcrum, a principle in the locomotion of small mammals: The example of the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) (Mammalia: Hyracoidea) , 1994 .

[14]  Jean-Pierre Gasc,et al.  Asymmetrical gait of the Saharian rodent Meriones shawi shawi (Duvernoy, 1842) (Rodentia, Mammalia): a high-speed cineradiographic analysis , 1993 .

[15]  P. R. van Weeren,et al.  Kinematics of the standardbred trotter measured at 6, 7, 8 and 9 m/s on a treadmill, before and after 5 months of prerace training. , 1993, Acta anatomica.

[16]  R. Alexander,et al.  Forces exerted on the ground by galloping dogs (Canis familiaris) , 1987 .

[17]  R. Alexander,et al.  Do legs have surplus degrees of freedom? , 1986, Behavioral and Brain Sciences.

[18]  Richard B. Stein,et al.  Variations of reflex parameters and their implications for the control of movements , 1986, Behavioral and Brain Sciences.

[19]  D McClearn,et al.  Anatomy of raccoon (Procyon lotor) and coati (Nasua narica and N. nasua) forearm and leg muscles: Relations between fiber length, moment‐arm length, and joint‐angle excursion , 1985, Journal of morphology.

[20]  E. Chao,et al.  Fourier analysis of ground reaction forces in normals and patients with knee joint disease. , 1983, Journal of biomechanics.

[21]  R M Alexander,et al.  Fourier analysis of forces exerted in walking and running. , 1980, Journal of biomechanics.

[22]  A W English,et al.  Functional analysis of the shoulder girdle of cats during locomotion , 1978, Journal of morphology.

[23]  J P Albright,et al.  An automated accelerometry system for gait analysis. , 1977, Journal of biomechanics.

[24]  G. H. Wentink.  The action of the hind limb musculature of the dog in walking. , 1976, Acta anatomica.

[25]  G. E. Goslow,et al.  The cat step cycle: Hind limb joint angles and muscle lengths during unrestrained locomotion , 1973, Journal of morphology.

[26]  N. A. Jacobs,et al.  Analysis of the vertical component of force in normal and pathological gait. , 1972, Journal of biomechanics.

[27]  Karpovich Pv,et al.  Normal gait of the dog: an electrogoniometric study. , 1966 .