A method and apparatus for recording and analyzing the gait of an animal is provided.
The apparatus can take the form of a gait imaging system. The system includes a
movable belt track upon which a subject can ambulate. An imaging device is disposed
below the belt track to record contact between at least one limb of the subject
and the belt track. The subject can ambulate along the belt track in a substantially
stationary location above the imaging device as the belt track moves, and the imaging
device can record the contact by the subject. A method of recording a gait of an
ambulating subject is also provided. The method includes locating the subject on
a movable belt track. The subject is motivated to ambulate along the movable belt
track at about the same rate as the movable belt track, while the belt track is
moving, such that the location of the subject does not substantially change. Contact
made by at least one limb of the subject with the belt track is recorded with a
recording device underneath the belt track. Additional kinematic analysis can occur
of the subject's gait. The method of recording can further include transmission
of the gait images to a computing apparatus. The computing apparatus can identify
footprint image data, including filtering out unwanted noise. The computing apparatus
can then carry out the kinematic analysis, including calculation of physiological
information relating to the subject.
