Catwalk Gait Analysis
Objective: Assessment of locomotion patterns and gait speed by analyzing footprint patterns during spontaneous walking on an illuminated glass lane
This is a Catwalk Gait Analysis protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 4 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 2 materials. Extracted from a 2016 paper published in Aging.
Model and subjects
rat • Wistar • male • 8 months to 24 months
Study window
~10 minutes hands-on
Core workflow
Animal placement on Catwalk lane • Recording of footstep patterns • Selection of smooth runs for analysis
Primary readouts
- Locomotion patterns
- Gait speed
- Footprint patterns
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Animal placement on Catwalk lane
Animals were placed to spontaneously walk on a glass lane with tangential illumination
Note: At least 3 runs per animal were acquired with 10 minutes break in between
View evidence from paper
“Animals were placed to spontaneously walk on a glass lane with tangential illumination and each step was recorded by detecting light diffraction using a camera below the lane. At least 3 runs per animal were acquired with 10 minutes break in between”
Recording of footstep patterns
Each step was recorded by detecting light diffraction using a camera below the lane
View evidence from paper
“each step was recorded by detecting light diffraction using a camera below the lane”
Selection of smooth runs for analysis
Smooth runs were identified and selected for analysis, defined as runs during which the rat maintained constant speed for at least 3-4 prints per paw
View evidence from paper
“Locomotion patterns and gait speed were then analyzed from smooth runs, which were defined as runs during which the rat maintained constant speed for at least 3-4 prints per paw”
Automated analysis and manual editing
Locomotion patterns and gait speed were analyzed using the automated Catwalk analysis software. All runs were required to be manually edited for correct detection of the paws
Note: Manual editing was necessary to ensure correct paw detection
View evidence from paper
“using the automated Catwalk analysis software. All runs were required, manually edited for correct detection of the paws”