The Role of Relative Spinal Motion during Feline Galloping for Speed Performance

Felines use their spinal column to increase their running speed at rapid locomotion performance. However, its motion profile behavior during fast gait locomotion has little attention. The goal of this study is to examine the relative spinal motion profile during two different galloping gait speeds. To understand this dynamic behavior trend, a dynamic motion of the feline animal (Felis catus domestica) was measured and analyzed by motion capture devices. Based on the experiments at two different galloping gaits, we observed a significant increase in speed (from 3.2 m·s−1 to 4.33 m·s−1) during the relative motion profile synchronization between the spinal (range: 118.86° to 168.00°) and pelvic segments (range: 46.35° to 91.13°) during the hindlimb stance phase (time interval: 0.495 s to 0.600 s). Based on this discovery, the relative angular speed profile was applied to understand the possibility that the role of the relative motion match during high speed locomotion generates bigger ground reaction force.