Postural balance is based on the integration of sensory inputs from the proprioceptive, visual and vestibular systems along with adaptive muscle activations coordinated within the central nervous system. Balance itself is maintained by muscle contractions that counteract gravity, and forms the basis of many activities of daily living such as walking and standing. Therefore, standing still is an active, controlled process that is influenced by the aforementioned sensorimotor signals. Disturbances in any of these systems can adversely affect postural stability in humans. Therefore, the study of postural balance provides valuable information on the interactions between these systems
Center of Pressure (COP) parameters are often evaluated in the analysis of movement disorders in humans and animals. Methodological inconsistencies are a major problem when evaluating conflicting study results. The aim of this study was to assess the inter-observer reliability and test-retest reliability of body COP parameters including mediolateral and craniocaudal displacement, total length, average velocity and support area in healthy dogs during quiet standing on a pressure plate. In addition, she sought to determine the minimum number of trials and shortest duration necessary to accurately assess COP.
Twelve clinically healthy dogs underwent three repeat measurements, which were analyzed by three independent observers to assess interobserver reliability. Measurement and repeated measures reliability was assessed in three trials per dog, each lasting 20 seconds (s). The selected 20-s measurements were analyzed in six different ways: 1 × 20 s, 1 × 15 s, 2 × 10 s, 4 × 5 s, 10 × 2 s, and 20 × 1 s.
Results showed excellent interobserver reliability (ICC ≥ 0.93) for all COP parameters. However, only the 5 s, 10 s and 15 s measurements reached the reliability threshold (ICC ≥ 0.60) for all parameters assessed.
The shortest repeatable durations were obtained either from two measurements lasting 5 s or from a single measurement lasting 10 s. Most importantly, statistically significant differences were observed between the different measurement durations, highlighting the need for standardization of measurement durations in COP analysis. The results of this study assist researchers in implementing standardized methods, thereby facilitating comparisons between different studies and increasing the reliability and validity of research results in veterinary medicine.
Aghapour M, Affenzeller N, Lutonsky C, Peham C, Tichy A, Bockstahler B. A validation study to analyze the reliability of center of pressure data in static posturography in dogs. Front Vet Sci. 2024 Mar 14;11:1353824. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1353824. PMID: 38560629; PMCID: PMC10979645.
