Structure and Motion Laboratory

People

Anna Walker

Anna at a recent open day

Anna graduated from the University of Bristol in 2005 with a BSc (Hons) in Equine Science. During her undergraduate studies a keen interest in animal locomotion led to her research dissertation supervised by Dr G.R.Colborne investigating the effects of velocity on work patterns in trotting greyhounds.

The opportunity arose for continued study through a PhD at the RVC entitled ‘Biomechanics of lameness in Quadrupeds’ under the supervision of Professor A. Wilson and Dr.-Ing. T. Pfau.

Anna's PhD gained in 2010 was involved with two main areas of research:

Part of a large DEFRA funded project investigating changes in locomotion parameters associated with lameness in dairy cattle. The findings are to be utilised in the development of a quantitative, automated, early lameness detection system, improving the welfare and economic concerns associated with lameness on dairy farms.
Investigation of a novel method for kinematic gait analysis in horses. The system that has been developed provides a means for studying multiple consecutive strides in field which in the future could provide a clinically applicable gait analysis tool.

Anna is now a Lecturer in Equine Studies at Moulton College http://www.moulton.ac.uk/research-staff/anna-walker.asp .

e-mail. anna.walker at moulton.ac.uk

Publications

Walker, A. M., T. Pfau, Channon, A., Wilson, A. (2009). "Assessment of dairy cow locomotion in a commercial farm setting: The effects of walking speed on ground reaction forces and temporal and linear stride characteristics." Res Vet Sci.

Church, E. E., Walker, A. M., Wilson, A. M., Pfau, T. (2009). "Evaluation of discriminant analysis based on dorsoventral symmetry indices to quantify hindlimb lameness during over ground locomotion in the horse." Equine Vet J 41(3): 304-8.

Channon, A. J.,Walker, A. M., Pfau, T., Sheldon, I. M., Wilson, A. M. (2009). "Variability of Manson and Leaver locomotion scores assigned to dairy cows by different observers." Vet Rec 164(13): 388-92.

Colborne, G. R., Walker, A.M., Tattersall, A. J., Fuller, C. J. (2006). "Effect of trotting velocity on work patterns of the hind limbs of Greyhounds." Am J Vet Res 67(8): 1293-8.

Structure and Motion Lab These pages maintained by the SML Contact: Alan Wilson