Aghapour Masoud, Affenzeller Nadja, Lutonsky Christiane, Peham Christian, Tichy Alexander, Bockstahler Barbara
Section of Physical Therapy, Small Animal Surgery, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Front Vet Sci. 2024 Mar 14;11:1353824. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1353824. eCollection 2024.
Center of pressure (COP) parameters are frequently assessed to analyze movement disorders in humans and animals. Methodological discrepancies are a major concern when evaluating conflicting study results. This study aimed to assess the inter-observer reliability and test-retest reliability of body COP parameters including mediolateral and craniocaudal sway, total length, average speed and support surface in healthy dogs during quiet standing on a pressure plate. Additionally, it sought to determine the minimum number of trials and the shortest duration necessary for accurate COP assessment.
Twelve clinically healthy dogs underwent three repeated trials, which were analyzed by three independent observers to evaluate inter-observer reliability. Test-retest reliability was assessed across the three trials per dog, each lasting 20 seconds (s). 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 demonstrated excellent inter-observer reliability (ICC ≥ 0.93) for all COP parameters. However, only 5 s, 10 s, and 15 s measurements achieved the reliability threshold (ICC ≥ 0.60) for all evaluated parameters.
The shortest repeatable durations were obtained from either two 5 s measurements or a single 10 s measurement. Most importantly, statistically significant differences were observed between the different measurement durations, which underlines the need to standardize measurement times in COP analysis. The results of this study aid scientists in implementing standardized methods, thereby easing comparisons across studies and enhancing the reliability and validity of research findings in veterinary medicine.
压力中心（COP）参数常用于分析人类和动物的运动障碍。在评估相互矛盾的研究结果时，方法学差异是一个主要问题。本研究旨在评估健康犬在压力板上安静站立时，包括内外侧和头尾向摆动、总长度、平均速度和支撑面积在内的身体COP参数的观察者间可靠性和重测可靠性。此外，还试图确定准确评估COP所需的最少试验次数和最短持续时间。
12只临床健康的犬进行了三次重复试验，由三名独立观察者进行分析，以评估观察者间可靠性。每只犬的三次试验用于评估重测可靠性，每次试验持续20秒（s）。对选定的20秒测量值采用六种不同方式进行分析：1×20秒、1×15秒、2×10秒、4×5秒、10×2秒和20×1秒。
所有COP参数的观察者间可靠性均极佳（ICC≥0.93）。然而，只有5秒、10秒和15秒的测量值对所有评估参数达到了可靠性阈值（ICC≥0.60）。
最短可重复持续时间来自两次5秒测量或一次10秒测量。最重要的是，不同测量持续时间之间存在统计学显著差异，这突出了在COP分析中标准化测量时间的必要性。本研究结果有助于科学家采用标准化方法，从而便于跨研究进行比较，并提高兽医学研究结果的可靠性和有效性。
