Name: The Ladder Rung Walking Task: A Scoring System and its Practical Application. (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2009-06-12T00:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 9 min 38 s
Description: Learn the ladder rung walking task for assessing skilled walking and limb coordination in rats using an adjustable apparatus. This method provides a reliable standardized approach for evaluating motor function in neuroscience research.

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This research was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Canadian Stroke Network. GAM was also supported by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.

Ladder rung walking test apparatus
The horizontal ladder rung walking test apparatus consisted of side walls made of clear Plexiglas and metal rungs (3 mm diameter), which could be inserted to create a floor with a minimum distance of 1 cm between rungs (see Fig. 1; Metz and Whishaw, 2003). The side walls were 1 m long and 19 cm high measured from the height of the rungs. The ladder was elevated 30 cm above the ground with a neutral start cage and a refuge (home cage) at the end. Because animals were habituated during training, the elevation of the apparatus was unlikely to cause anxiety. The width of the alley was adjusted to the size of the animal, so that it was about 1 cm wider than an animal to prevent the animal from turning around.
The difficulty of the task was modified by varying the position of the metal rungs. A regular pattern of the rungs allowed the animals to learn the pattern over several training sessions and to anticipate the position of the rungs (Fig. 1, Pattern A). An irregular pattern that was changed from trial to trial prevented the animal from learning the pattern (Fig. 1, Pattern B). For the regular arrangement, the rungs were spaced at 2 cm intervals. For the irregular pattern, the distance of the rungs varied systematically from 1 to 5 cm. Five templates of irregular rung patterns were used, so that the same patterns were applied to all animals to standardize the difficulty of the test and enhance comparability of the outcome (see results).
Videorecording
A camera (Canovision, Canon Inc.) was positioned at a slight ventral angle, so positions of all four limbs could be recorded simultaneously. The shutter speed was set at 500 - 2000 s. The videorecordings were analyzed using frame-by-frame analysis at 30 f/sec.
Behavioral training and test analysis
The animals were trained to cross the ladder from a neutral cage to reach their home cage, so the home cage with littermates provided the positive reinforcement for walking. All animals crossed the ladder in the same direction. No further reinforcement was given to motivate the animals to cross the ladder. All animals were trained and tested five times per session.
Foot fault scoring
The qualitative evaluation of forelimb and hindlimb placement was performed using a foot fault scoring system as described earlier (Metz and Whishaw, 2003). Analysis was made by inspection of the video recordings frame-by-frame. Only consecutive steps of each limb were analyzed. Therefore, the last step before a gait interruption, such as a stop or a foot fault, and the first step after an interruption were not scored. The last stepping cycle performed at the end of the ladder was also excluded from scoring. Limb placement was scored in terms of limb placement on a rung and limb protrusion between rungs when a miss occurred.
The types of foot or paw placement on the rungs were rated using a 7-category scale (see Fig. 2). Foot or paw placement on the rung was rated according to their position and errors that occurred in placement accuracy.
(0) Total miss. 0 points were given when the limb completely missed a rung, i.e. did not touch it, and a fall occurred. A fall was defined as a limb deeply falling in-between rungs and body posture and balance were disturbed. (1) Deep slip. The limb was initially placed on a rung, then slipped off when weight-bearing and caused a fall. (2) Slight slip. The limb was placed on a rung, slipped off when weight bearing, but did not result in a fall nor interrupt the gait cycle. In this case, the animal was able to maintain balance and continue a coordinated gait. (3) Replacement. The limb was placed on a rung, but before it was weight bearing it was quickly lifted and placed on another rung. (4) Correction. The limb aimed for one rung, but was then placed on another rung without touching the first one. Alternatively, a score of 4 was recorded if a limb was placed on a rung and was quickly repositioned while remaining on the same rung. (5) Partial placement. The limb was placed on a rung with either wrist or digits of the forelimb or heel or toes of the hindlimb. (6) Correct placement. The midportion of the palm of a limb was placed on the rung with full weight support.
When different errors occurred at the same time, the lowest of the scores was recorded. For instance, if a foot was first placed on a rung and then placed on another one in the same step (score 3), and then slipped and fell in-between rungs (score 1), a score of 1 was recorded. When a fall occurred, only the limb initiating the error was rated and none of the other limbs was scored until the animal had repositioned all limbs. Error scores of five trials were averaged for analysis.
Foot placement accuracy analysis (number of errors)
The number of errors in each crossing was counted. Errors were determined based on the foot fault scoring system. An error was defined as each limb placement that received a score of 0, 1 or 2 points, i.e. an error represents any kind of foot slip or total miss. The number of errors and the number of steps was recorded for each limb separately. From these data, the mean number of errors per step was calculated and averaged for five trials. The second quantitative parameter analyzed was the average time needed to cross the entire length of the ladder task. Time measurement started after the animal was placed on the ladder and began walking the entire length of it. The time an animal spent in a stop was not included in the measurement.
Forepaw digit score
The forepaw digit score was recorded when the paw was placed correctly with its midportion on a rung (i.e. score 6 in the foot fault scoring system). The degree to which the digits of the forepaw could be flexed around a rung was rated in a three-point scale (Fig. 2). The score was applied to the position with the maximum weight support, i.e. the forelimb was positioned vertically on a rung. The scores were given as follows: (0) Digits closed in an approximate 90-degree angle. (1) Digits closed in an approximate 45 degree angle. (2) Digits completely flexed around the rung. Scores of five steps were averaged and used for analysis.
Figure legends
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/old/1204_2009_1_20_6/Fig%201%20Grid.png" alt="Static equilibrium, ΣFx=0 diagram, demonstrating beam stability with force offsets and pattern alignment." data-altupdatedat="1787630408000" data-alt="figure 1"> 
Fig 1. The skilled ladder rung walking test apparatus in the frontolateral view, with the specific measurements of the apparatus indicated. Two different rung patterns were used in the present study: Pattern A, regular rung arrangement, Pattern B, irregular rung arrangement. The irregular rung arrangement varied between consecutive trials.
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/old/1204_2009_1_20_7/Fig%202%20(angle%20lines).png" alt="Forepaw digit score diagram; evaluates motor function via numerical scoring in experimental setup." data-altupdatedat="1787630408000" data-alt="figure 2">
Fig. 2. Representative photographs illustrating the three categories of the digit score. Note the angle of the digits in relation to the forelimb when in full weight support.

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We have nothing to disclose.

The present study introduces the ladder rung walking task as a new test to assess skilled walking, limb placement and limb co-ordination. The ladder rung walking task allows discrimination between subtle disturbances of motor function by combining qualitative and quantitative analysis of skilled walking. The video analysis procedure can be used for a more descriptive account of impairments, and the simple rating scale described in this paper reveals any errors in limb placement and digit flexion when grasping a rung. Qua...

the ladder rung walking task: a scoring system and its practical application.

The Ladder Rung Walking Task: A Scoring System and its Practical Application.

Progress in the development of animal models for/stroke, spinal cord injury, and other neurodegenerative disease requires tests of high sensitivity to elaborate distinct aspects of motor function and to determine even subtle loss of movement capacity. To enhance efficacy and resolution of testing, tests should permit qualitative and quantitative measures of motor function and be sensitive to changes in performance during recovery periods. The present study describes a new task to assess skilled walking in the rat to measure both forelimb and hindlimb function at the same time. Animals are required to walk along a horizontal ladder on which the spacing of the rungs is variable and is periodically changed. Changes in rung spacing prevent animals from learning the absolute and relative location of the rungs and so minimize the ability of the animals to compensate for impairments through learning. In addition, changing the spacing between the rungs allows the test to be used repeatedly in long-term studies. Methods are described for both quantitative and qualitative description of both fore- and hindlimb performance, including limb placing, stepping, co-ordination. Furthermore, use of compensatory strategies is indicated by missteps or compensatory steps in response to another limb&#x2019;s misplacement. 

The ladder rung walking task is a new test to assess skilled walking and measure both forelimb and hindlimb placing, stepping, and inter-limb co-ordination.

Progress in the development of animal models for/stroke, spinal cord injury, and other neurodegenerative disease requires tests of high sensitivity to ...

The ladder rung walking task assesses skilled walking and measures both for limb and hind limb. Placing, stepping and inter limb coordination. The apparatus consists of two clear plexiglass walls, one meter in length and 20 centimeters high, one centimeter from the base.Small holes have been drilled at one centimeter intervals. Metal rungs 13 centimeters long, and three millimeters in diameter are placed at regular or irregular intervals along the base of the walls. The walls of the apparatus can be adjusted to suit the size of the rat being tested.The wall spacing should be narrow enough to prevent the rat from turning around while in the apparatus, but not so narrow as to impede the rat's natural walking movement. One centimeter of clearance on either side of the rat should be sufficient. Each end of the rung ladder apparatus is placed on a transport tub.At one end is a neutral starting tub, and on the other end is the rat's familiar home tub. It may take some time for the test subject to begin and finish a crossing to keep stress levels. At a minimum, the rat should not be pushed or prodded.It is best to let the animal cross at its own leisure. If the rat continually turns around in the apparatus, the walls may be spaced too widely. If narrowing the ladder walls does not prevent the behavior, the tester may place a hand in the crossing channel just behind the rat to score the wrong walking task.A seven point system was devised where each paw placement on a rung receives a score ranging from zero to six. They are total miss deep slip, slight slip, replacement, correction, partial placement, and six correct Placement. A total miss Receives a score of zero and occurs when the rat's paw fails to touch a rung during an attempted placement causing the animal to fall.A fall being defined as when a limb passes between the rungs causing body posture and balance to be disrupted. Total misses with the four Paw are rare. A deep slip occurs When a limb is placed on a rung, but slips off when weightbearing causing fall.Deep slips of the four Paw are also rare. A slight slip occurs when a paw slips off a rung after placement, but does not result in a fall That disrupts walking. Replacement occurs when a paw is placed on a rung, but is quickly moved to another rung before bearing any weight.A correction is when a paw aims at one rung, but is placed on another rung without touching the first rung. A correction also Occurs if a paw is placed on a rung and is quickly repositioned before bearing weight. This type of correction is rare In the hind paws.Partial placement occurs when a paw Is placed on a rung with just the wrist or digits of a front limb or the heel and digits of a Hind limb. A correct Placement of a paw requires the midpoint of the palm to be positioned directly on top of a rung. While Fully bearing weight, a stepping cycle is Considered to have occurred when one four paw and one hind paw, typically the contralateral hind paw has contacted the rungs and fully supported the rat's weight.These are effectively four individual steps, a four paw and a hind paw, followed by a four paw and a hind paw. This allows the rat to establish a stepping rhythm as only consecutive steps are scored. When the rat makes a stop on the ladder, the last cycle before the stop, and the first cycle after the Stop are not scored.The last cycle before a rat reaches the end of the ladder is also not scored. Resulting errors by the other paws are not recorded. Scoring should not resume until the faulting paw Has completed one successful cycle.

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Learn the ladder rung walking task for assessing skilled walking and limb coordination in rats using an adjustable apparatus. This method provides a reliable standardized approach for evaluating motor function in neuroscience research.

The Ladder Rung Walking Task: A Scoring System and its Practical Application.

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