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Filming ProtocolFree in-browser calculator

Rodent Gait Video Checklist.

Generate a printable filming protocol with camera positions, locomotion types, apparatus, and acclimation notes for mouse and rat gait analysis or ConductVision upload.

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Load example rodent gait video checklist data to see the full workflow

Session Info

Subject ID *

Species

Date

High-speedAcclimationPaw markingPI requested

Locomotion Types

Camera Positions

Apparatus

Filming Protocol (0 clips)

Subject ID is empty.

No locomotion types selected. Select at least overground walk.

No camera positions selected.

No apparatus selected.

File naming: _mouse_2026-11-07_[LOCO]_[CAMERA]_[APPARATUS]_trial[N]

Select locomotion types, camera positions, and apparatus to generate your protocol.

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Film one clip with this protocol and send it to ConductVision. You get the results back by email, free.

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Filming protocol follows established rodent gait analysis methodologies (CatWalk, DigiGait). Sending a clip to ConductVision needs no account.

How It Works

Select your species (mouse or rat), locomotion types (overground walk, treadmill, swim, beam, ladder, rotarod), camera positions (ventral, lateral, dorsal, front, rear), and apparatus. Optionally enable high-speed video notes, paw marking instructions, and acclimation protocols. The tool generates a numbered shot list with species-specific instructions, duration, and filming tips for each clip. Incompatible combinations (e.g. ventral camera without glass walkway) are automatically filtered. Download the protocol as a printable PDF to bring to the recording session.

Filming Best Practices

Acclimation is critical: habituate animals to the apparatus for 3–5 sessions before data collection. Record at the same time of day to minimize circadian effects on locomotion. Use non-reflective backgrounds that contrast with the animal’s fur color. Place a calibration object (ruler) in frame at the start of each session for spatial scaling. For CatWalk-style walkways, darken the room to maximize paw print contrast. Frame rate matters: 100 fps minimum for basic parameters, 250+ fps for detailed swing phase analysis. Exclude trials where the animal stops, reverses, or grooms mid-crossing. Always randomize condition order across subjects.

Method

Filming protocol follows established rodent gait analysis methodologies including CatWalk XT (Noldus), DigiGait (Mouse Specifics), and manual footprint analysis conventions. Camera positions prioritize the views most informative for each apparatus: ventral for paw print parameters on glass walkways, lateral for stride kinematics, dorsal for base of support. Acclimation protocols follow published recommendations for reducing locomotor variability in naïve animals. All computation runs locally in your browser — no data is uploaded.

Published

Published 2026-04-09. Calculations support planning and documentation; verify procurement decisions against manufacturer specifications or institutional SOPs.

How to cite

How to Cite

ConductScience Team (2026). Rodent Gait Video Checklist [Web application]. ConductScience. https://conductscience.com/tools/rodent-gait-video-checklist

Frequently asked

What locomotion types should I film for a standard gait analysis?

At minimum: overground walk on a glass walkway with ventral camera (CatWalk-style) for paw print parameters, plus lateral camera for stride kinematics. Add treadmill if you need constant-speed control. Beam walk and ladder rung are valuable additions for models affecting fine motor coordination (stroke, SCI, peripheral neuropathy).

Do I need high-speed video?

For basic gait parameters (stride length, base of support, paw placement), 100 fps is sufficient. For detailed kinematic analysis of swing phase, toe clearance, or inter-limb coordination, 250+ fps high-speed cameras are recommended. Most standard webcams and phones are NOT fast enough for rodent gait analysis.

How do I acclimate rodents to the apparatus?

Handle animals daily for 3–5 days before testing. For glass walkways, run 3–5 practice crossings on 2 consecutive days. For treadmill, start at low speed (10–15 cm/s) for 5 min daily for 3 days. Insufficient acclimation is the #1 cause of unusable gait data — stressed animals freeze, groom, or run erratically.

Can ConductVision analyze my rodent gait videos?

Yes. Send one clip to ConductVision at vision.conductscience.com and we'll send back what it measures from your recording, free.

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