12/19/2016
Basics of Locomotion- Dr.R.L.Gillette
Having an understanding of locomotion can help to:
Evaluate the conformation and gait of any dog.
It can be used diagnostically to determine causes and location of lameness.
Post-treatment it can be used to assess rehabilitation from injuries.
In the competitive dog it can be used to assess any subclinical factors that might affect performance.
Basics of Locomotion
Structure
Canine locomotion can be used to assess the function of the body as a whole by evaluating the functions of it's individual components. The anatomy of the dog's body is designed symmetrically. The right side should mirror the left side. In theory then the movements of the right side should mirror the movements of the left side. This is true to an extent, with variances due to laterality, in other words some dogs are right-handed and some dogs are left-handed.
Locomotion
To evaluate balanced body movement we can analyze canine locomotion. The common name for analysis of canine locomotion is "gait analysis". There are various forms of gait, which are a combined result of body anatomy and velocity of movement. Gaits can be defined as symmetrical or asymmetrical. While in a symmetrical gait, the movements of the sides of the dog mirror each other. Examples of these gaits are the walk, trot, and pace. In an asymmetrical gait the movements of the two sides are not the same. The running gallup is an example of this type of gait.
The best gaits to use for gait analysis are the symmetrical gaits, the walk or the trot. It is easier to pick up abnormal movement while a dog is moving symmetrically. The trot is a two phase gait, and the gait that is utilized by our CAV motion analysis system we currently using for the dog. In the trot gait, one front leg and its' contralateral rear leg are in support, followed by the other front leg and it's contralateral rear leg. This gait is usually used by the dog at speeds to fast to walk but not fast enough for a run. Some breeds use a pace gait instead of the trot. The pace is similar to the trot except that the right side legs are in support followed by the left side legs. Our system is capable of analyzing a dog in a pace gait.
Lameness
Lameness is defined as a variance from normal gait. There are two types of lameness: anatomical and pathologic. Anatomical lameness may not necessarily be from pain, and can be genetic or acquired. Pathological lameness can be neural or musculoskeletal. Musculoskeletal lameness is usually caused by pain . Two diagnostic tools to assess lameness are gait analysis and the physical exam. The amount of variance from a normal gait is defined in degrees of lameness.
Most abnormalalities can be detected with subjective gait analysis. A dog with a lesion causing severe sharp constant pain will carry the limb and keep the wieight off it when lying down. A dull aching pain will produce a limp during the gait analysis. A lesion that produces a small pain that occurs in certain phases of locomotion allows the dog to adjust its gait for relief. The quadruped has the ability to minimize pain by altering movement in such a way that the abnormality may be unnoticeable. This altered gait can lead to subsequent orthopedic problems.
Gait Analysis
Canine locomotion can be compared to a symphony orchestra playing a composition. "All parts must blend into a harmonious pattern, from the gentle sway of the head and tail for balance to the coordinated efforts of each limb and body muscle to accomplish its special function. Conversely, also like an orchestra, if all movements are not attuned to the whole, a major fault should be evident" (Roy 1971) .
The canine structure is divided into segments when analyzing motion. The axial vertebral column is made up of many joints and is divided into anatomical segments. The cranial segment is the head, followed caudally by the neck (cervical), thoracic, abdominal (lumbo-sacral), and tail. The appendicular segments are the front legs and the back legs. These are subdivided into smaller segments by the leg joints: shoulder, elbow, carpus, hip, stifle, tarsus & phalanges. Locomotion as a whole is a result of the individual movements of these segments. Gait analysis is used to assess the movement of each of the individual joints and how they affect locomotion.
Axial Skeleton includes:
Head
Neck
Thorax
Abdomen
Pelvis
Tail
Appendicular Skeleton Includes:
Front end
Scapula
Humerus
Radius/Ulna
Carpus
Phalanges
Back end
Femur
Tibia/Fibula
Tarsus
Phalanges
Quantitative gait analysis assigns numerical values to motion and includes the application of kinetics and kinematics. The force plate is an example of kinetic analysis being used to assess lameness. The numerical values of the ground reaction forces are used to determine variances of gait. Video analysis is used to assess the kinematic parameters of locomotion. With kinematic analysis, linear parameters of movement can be measured to assess horizontal and vertical motion. Also, angular parameters can measure the degrees of movement of the joints to analyze specific joint motion.
