Kinematic adaptions to induced short-term pelvic limb lameness in trotting dogs

Abstract Background Lameness due to paw injuries is common in the clinical practice. Although many studies investigated gait adaptations to diseases or injuries, mainly of the hip and knee, our understanding of the biomechanical coping mechanisms that lame dogs utilize is limited. Therefore, this st...

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Main Authors: Birte Goldner, Stefanie Fischer, Ingo Nolte, Nadja Schilling
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-06-01
Series:BMC Veterinary Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-018-1484-2
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author Birte Goldner
Stefanie Fischer
Ingo Nolte
Nadja Schilling
author_facet Birte Goldner
Stefanie Fischer
Ingo Nolte
Nadja Schilling
author_sort Birte Goldner
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Lameness due to paw injuries is common in the clinical practice. Although many studies investigated gait adaptations to diseases or injuries, mainly of the hip and knee, our understanding of the biomechanical coping mechanisms that lame dogs utilize is limited. Therefore, this study evaluated the kinematic changes associated with an induced, load-bearing pelvic limb lameness in healthy dogs trotting on a treadmill. Kinematic analysis included spatio-temporal comparisons of limb, joint and segment angles of all limbs. Key parameters compared between sound and lame conditions were: angles at touch-down and lift-off, minimum and maximum joint angles and range of motion. Results Significant differences were identified in each limb during both stance and swing phases. The most pronounced differences concerned the affected pelvic limb, followed by the contralateral pelvic limb, the contralateral thoracic limb and, to the least degree, the ipsilateral thoracic limb. The affected limb was retracted more, while the contralateral limb was protracted more, consistent with this limb bearing more body weight in lame dogs. Conclusions Kinematic adaptations involved almost all segment and joint angles in the pelvic limbs, while they exclusively concerned distal parts of the thoracic limbs. Comparisons with tripedal locomotion reveal several striking similarities, implying that dogs use similar principles to cope with a partial or a total loss in limb function. Because kinematic alterations occurred in all limbs and not just the affected one, all limbs should be included in routine follow-ups and be part of the diagnostic and therapeutic care of canine patients.
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spelling doaj.art-0fe158b660ce4df7839e244094c73b642022-12-22T02:19:48ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482018-06-0114111110.1186/s12917-018-1484-2Kinematic adaptions to induced short-term pelvic limb lameness in trotting dogsBirte Goldner0Stefanie Fischer1Ingo Nolte2Nadja Schilling3Foundation, Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine HannoverFoundation, Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine HannoverFoundation, Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine HannoverInstitute of Systematic Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Friedrich-Schiller-UniversityAbstract Background Lameness due to paw injuries is common in the clinical practice. Although many studies investigated gait adaptations to diseases or injuries, mainly of the hip and knee, our understanding of the biomechanical coping mechanisms that lame dogs utilize is limited. Therefore, this study evaluated the kinematic changes associated with an induced, load-bearing pelvic limb lameness in healthy dogs trotting on a treadmill. Kinematic analysis included spatio-temporal comparisons of limb, joint and segment angles of all limbs. Key parameters compared between sound and lame conditions were: angles at touch-down and lift-off, minimum and maximum joint angles and range of motion. Results Significant differences were identified in each limb during both stance and swing phases. The most pronounced differences concerned the affected pelvic limb, followed by the contralateral pelvic limb, the contralateral thoracic limb and, to the least degree, the ipsilateral thoracic limb. The affected limb was retracted more, while the contralateral limb was protracted more, consistent with this limb bearing more body weight in lame dogs. Conclusions Kinematic adaptations involved almost all segment and joint angles in the pelvic limbs, while they exclusively concerned distal parts of the thoracic limbs. Comparisons with tripedal locomotion reveal several striking similarities, implying that dogs use similar principles to cope with a partial or a total loss in limb function. Because kinematic alterations occurred in all limbs and not just the affected one, all limbs should be included in routine follow-ups and be part of the diagnostic and therapeutic care of canine patients.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-018-1484-2Hindlimb lamenessKinematicsCompensatory mechanismAngular excursion
spellingShingle Birte Goldner
Stefanie Fischer
Ingo Nolte
Nadja Schilling
Kinematic adaptions to induced short-term pelvic limb lameness in trotting dogs
BMC Veterinary Research
Hindlimb lameness
Kinematics
Compensatory mechanism
Angular excursion
title Kinematic adaptions to induced short-term pelvic limb lameness in trotting dogs
title_full Kinematic adaptions to induced short-term pelvic limb lameness in trotting dogs
title_fullStr Kinematic adaptions to induced short-term pelvic limb lameness in trotting dogs
title_full_unstemmed Kinematic adaptions to induced short-term pelvic limb lameness in trotting dogs
title_short Kinematic adaptions to induced short-term pelvic limb lameness in trotting dogs
title_sort kinematic adaptions to induced short term pelvic limb lameness in trotting dogs
topic Hindlimb lameness
Kinematics
Compensatory mechanism
Angular excursion
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-018-1484-2
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AT nadjaschilling kinematicadaptionstoinducedshorttermpelviclimblamenessintrottingdogs