Table 2.
Z-axis acceleration during routine cage transportation
| Transportation method | Mean Z-axis acceleration (m/s2) over the entire route | Maximal Z-axis acceleration (m/s2) at any point along the route |
| Hand | 1.98 ± 0.22 | 6.22 |
| Plastic cart | 8.60 ± 0.50ac | 17.31 |
| Large steel cart | 2.25 ± 0.33c | 13.67 |
| Small steel cart | 3.66 ± 0.15c | 13.76 |
| Plastic cart with towel | 5.70 ± 0.66 | 14.16 |
| Large steel cart with towel | 1.24 ± 0.10b | 9.71 |
| Small steel cart with towel | 2.00 ± 0.16 | 11.03 |
| Plastic cart with underpad | 5.89 ± 0.79 | 15.47 |
| Large steel cart with underpad | 1.73 ± 0.77 | 12.62 |
| Small steel cart with underpad | 3.16 ± 2.61 | 13.89 |
In all trials (that is control, towel, and underpad), the mean Z-axis acceleration was significantly greater than that for either of the steel carts.
a
Greater (P < 0.01) mean acceleration than that for all other transportation methods
b
Less (P < 0.01) mean acceleration than that for all cart types
c
Greater (P < 0.01) mean acceleration than that for the same cart type but with a towel between the cage and cart