01/02/2024
✨ Case study- Gait analysis ✨
These images show the difference in limb flexion (red lines) of a dog walking over different types of surfaces - concrete path (top image) grass (bottom image).
Interesting notes from the images…
🐾There was greater hip and stifle flexion in the hindlimb on the grass surface.
🐾 Flexion of the carpus in the forelimb increased on the grass surface.
🐾Elbow flexion did increase slightly on the grass but flexion of the shoulder was not affected.
✨ Why are these interesting notes?
Firstly, the benefits of allowing your pets to walk over different surfaces that increase limb flexion, such as grass, can improve their gait, strength, proprioception, mobility and joint health overtime.
Secondly, could the harness be effecting the amount of shoulder and elbow flexion, and possibly the way the dog is moving in general.
Thirdly, is he compensating with hyperflexion of the carpus joint to step over the grass rather than flexing more through the elbow and shoulder joint- why could this be?
Other factors should be considered such as breed, age, conformation, diagnosis, warm-up, gait, weather etc. This is also very simply looking at limb flexion, while other aspects of gait should be analysed!
