Canine Gait Assessment and Conforma0on This subject is one of the most important for you to understand and master as a massage therapist. Each animals structure has developed over the course of history to perform a set of functions that will, hopefully, keep that species alive and thriving until the end of time. Structure and function go hand-in-hand and should always complement each other. Unfortunately, bad breeding leads to a bad gene pool. Poor conformation can affect gaiting patterns, negatively, preventing the animal from living up to their true potential. Poor breeding, diet, repetitive physical stress, surgeries, accidents, poor environment and poor social conditions can also affect the animals gait and conformation for the better or worse. Compounding this problem is interbreeding, in a species, which totally distorts the conformation and, thereby, the gait of the animal. We should assess the animals conformation before we massage, or exercise, an animal. We need to have a thorough knowledge of the animals anatomical structure. Different breeds of dogs have different structures. The structure of the dog Page of 1 23
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CanineGaitAssessmentandConforma0on
Thissubjectisoneofthemostimportantforyoutounderstandandmasterasamassagetherapist.Eachanimalsstructurehasdevelopedoverthecourseofhistorytoperformasetoffunctionsthatwill,hopefully,keepthatspeciesaliveandthrivinguntiltheendoftime.Structureandfunctiongohand-in-handandshouldalwayscomplementeachother.Unfortunately,badbreedingleadstoabadgenepool.Poorconformationcanaffectgaitingpatterns,negatively,preventingtheanimalfromlivinguptotheirtruepotential.Poorbreeding,diet,repetitivephysicalstress,surgeries,accidents,poorenvironmentandpoorsocialconditionscanalsoaffecttheanimalsgaitandconformationforthebetterorworse.Compoundingthisproblemisinterbreeding,inaspecies,whichtotallydistortstheconformationand,thereby,thegaitoftheanimal.Weshouldassesstheanimalsconformationbeforewemassage,orexercise,ananimal.Weneedtohaveathoroughknowledgeoftheanimalsanatomicalstructure.Differentbreedsofdogshavedifferentstructures.Thestructureofthedog
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affectsthegaitingpatternofthedog.Eachbreedofdogwasbredtohaveadesiredfunction.Youwillbecomingintocontactwithmanytypesofmixedbreedanimals.Mixedbreeddogswillbesomeofthehardestanimalstoassess.Formixedbreeddogs,wewillhavetoHindamiddlegroundforassessmentofconformationandgaitanalysis.Ifpossible,Isuggestthatyoureadthefollowingbooksbeforedoinganyassessment:
1. TheDogInActionbyMcDowellLyon2. AnEyeForADogbyRobertW.Cole3. DogLocomotionandGaitAnalysisbyCurtisMBrown.
4. DogStepsbyRachelPaigeElliot 5. What’sYourAnglebyHelenGrinnelKing
PleasewatchandstudythegaitsonthissiteandwatchtheDogStepsvideo.TheDogStepsvideoshouldbewatchedmorethanonce.Ihavewatchedthisvideoover30timesandIstillgetmoreinformationfromiteachtimeIwatchit.Ifyoudon’thavethetime,moneyordesiretoreadtheabovebooks,thenIhopeIcangiveyouenoughinformationinthisdocumenttohelpyoudoagoodassessment.
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Equipment
Hereiswhatyouwillneedtodoagoodassessment.1.Avideocamera.YoucanuseyourphonecameraoriPadcamera.ThebestcameratousewouldbeaPOVcamera.Pointofviewcameraswillgiveyouagoodrecordingofwhatyouareseeingandyoucanfollowthedogcloselyduringthegaitanalysisportionoftheassessment.
2.AlongHlatareatowalkthedogonsuchasfootballHield,alongsidewalkoranemptystreet.Thetimeofdaywillbeimportantinthesummerorinhotclimates.Don’twalkadogonahotsurfaceinthesummer.Trytomakesureyouhaveaquiettimeofdaywhentherewon’tbealotofpeopleandanimalsaroundthatcouldbedistractingforthedog.
3.Aleashandacorrectioncollar(chokechain)orslipleash.
4.Aclipboard,writingimplement,iPadoranyotherelectronicdevicethatyoucanuse.
5.YoushouldgetaChuckitandsometennisballsoraFrisbee.GettingthedogtofetchthingswillgetthemtiredandallowyoutoHilmtheminplayfulaction.Adogthatistiredwillalsostarttoshowsignsofanyunderlying
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problemsthatmightnotbeobservablewhentheyarewellrested.
6.Somehighqualitynaturaltreats.7.Afullsetofintakeforms,especiallythegaitandconformationchecklist.
Observation and Assessment of Conformation
We should look at the animal standing and viewtheanimalfromallanglestakingpicturesaswegoaroundsothatwecanhavearecord.Posethedogin a stacked position so that you can check theirconformation.Checkingtheconformationwillgiveaclearpictureofanystructuraldeformities.
This is what I do to get a good stacked picture.Twopeopleareneededandacamerathatcandoburstmode(takeseveralpictureswithoneclick).Regardlessofthesizeofthedog,Iwantthephototakenon-levelwiththeshoulderandupperthigh.My breed (Border Collies), average about 18-20inches in height, so my photographer (Gail) issittingonaverylowstoolorontheground.Gailisalso positioned with the camera aimed at themiddle of the rib cage so that at no time is thepicturetakenatanangle.
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AtHirst,Iwillsemistackthedogholdingtheleashup with collar behind the ears. I will then tossfood, or toy, about a foot in front of the dog as Iwanttogetthedogtoleanandarchtheneckabit.I then count to three while the dog is looking,intently,atthetossedobject;thengivethereleasewordtogetit.Idothisseveraltimesasthishelpsthedogtobekeenonleaningintothestackforthetossedobject.Don’tworryifthedogmovesfeetatHirst. You are merely prepping the dog to bemotivatedtoleanintothestackandnotresistthetautnessoftheleash.Oncethisisaccomplished,Istackthedog(forreal)makingsurethatthefrontlegsarestraightdownandtherearlegshavethehockstraightdowntotheground.No“rockinghorse”stance,meaningthatneitherthefrontnorrearshouldbeoverextended.Ialwayslineupthefrontlegsbeforetherearlegs.Thephotographershouldhavetheperfectpictureofwhatthestacklookslike,fromtheside,andthentellyouwhichlegneedstobeadjusted.Whatthecameraseesiswhatyouwillget;whichiswhyitisimportantforthephotographertoknowwhattheyarelookingatandbeintherightposition.TheprecedingexcerptwaswrittenbyJaniceDeMelloofHobNobBorderColliesandwastakenfromWhat’sYourAnglebyHelenGrinnellKing.Therearequitea
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fewdogshowstackingvideosthatmightbehelpfulforyoutolearn.1. NoFussStack2. FreeStack3. TheUltimateDogStacker
Palpation
Afterwehavethepicturesweneed,weshouldpalpatethedogsbodytoassesswhetherthedogisloadingbothsidesequallyandfromfronttoback.Palpatetoseewhetherthemusclesoneithercraniallimbareequalinsizeandcarryinganequalamountoftension.Palpatethecaudallimbmusclesaswell.Palpatetheglutealmusclesoneitherside.Lookatthepadsofthefeettoseeiftheyaretoothin.Checkthenailstomakesurethenailsarenottoolong.Nailsthataretoolongwillaffectthegait,willputstressonthephalangesandcancauseknuckling.Whenyouarepalpatingthedogsmuscles,lookforhotandcoldspotsaswell.Coldspotsindicatealackofbloodcirculationtothearea.AbnormallyhotareasindicateinHlammation.InHlammationcanbecausedbytissuedamage,overuseofthejoint,overuseofmusclesoraninfectionofsomesort.Lookforpainsignalsduringpalpationaswell.Ifthedogpullsawayfromyourtouchortensestheirmuscles
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whenyouarepalpatinganarea,theymostlikelyhavesomepaininthatarea.Thepaincouldbeacuteorchronic.Acutepainwillbemoresensitivetotouchandveryhot.Chronicpainwillbelesssensitivethenacutepainandhotinawiderarea.Thedogcanreacttoapainmemoryaswell.Dogsandhumanswillpullawayfromsomeonetryingtotouchanareaoftheirbodythathasexperiencedalotofpainbefore.Thisguardingandwithdrawalresponsecanaffectthedogsstructureasmuchasanacutepainwithdrawalresponse.NotewhatyouHindonyourSOAPchartandintakeforms.
Examining the Gait
Wenowshowtheanimalscaretakerhowtowalkthedogcorrectly.Notmaypeopleknowhowtohaveadogheelcorrectly.Manydogstaketheircaretakersforawalkinsteadofbeingtakenforawalk.Teachingthedogtoheel,inmyopinion,istheonlytrainingthatisnecessaryforthenormaldog.YounoticehowIsaynormaldogs.Manydogshavebehavioralissuesandneedaprofessionaltoworkwiththemtohelpthemcorrecttheundesirablebehavior.Awellsocialized,unabashed,dogonlyneedstolearnhowtowalkonaleashcorrectly."Sit"and"stay"willnormallyonlyworkifanotherdogorasquirrelisnot
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around.Iwillpostavideohereinthefutureonthecorrectwaytowalkwithadogonaleash.Unlessyouareadogtrainerandhavethetimetoteachsomeonehowtowalktheirdogcorrectly,youwillneedaquickandefHicientwaytogetdogstowalkcorrectlywiththeircaretakers.MostofthevideosonYouTube,onteachingadogtoheel,arenotgoodandinvolvetoomanytrainingsteps.Small,frighteneddogsarethehardestdogstowalkonalease.Itisbesttoletthecaretakerwalknaturallywithsmallfrighteneddogs.HavethecaretakerwalkthedogonaHlatsurface.Followthedog,frombehind,andHilmthecaudalendofthedog.Stayfarenoughawayfromthedogsothatyoucanseetheentiretoplineofthedogandthecranialandcaudallimbsastheymove.Whenyouhaveenoughfootageofthedogmovingawayfromyou,havethecaretakerwalkthedogtoyouasyoumovebackwards.Whenyouhaveenoughfootage,havethecaretakercontinuewalkingwhileyouHilmtheleftandtherightsidesofthedogasyoufollowthedogoneachside.Whenyouhaveenoughfootage,watchthedogafewmoretimes(withoutrecording)andnotewhatyouareseeing,withthenakedeye,onyourgaitandconformationchart.
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Palpation Of Muscles and Bones
Whenpalpatingthemusclesthatarebearingtheshiftedweight,wewillseemoretensionandbiggermuscles.Thiswillbeespeciallynoticeableinlateralweightredistributionintheleftandrightcranialandcaudallimbs.Duringpalpationofthemuscles,youmightHindthattheincorrectlypositionedjointwillhaveswellingandpainthatisassociatedwiththeinHlammatoryprocess.YoumightalsohearorfeelclickingwhenyoumovethejointthroughitsROM(rangeofmotion).Checkouteachjointsrangeofmotionwhenyouarepalpatingthebody.Wecandiscoverweaknessesthroughpalpationthatcanhelpustodeterminewheretodomassageontheaffectedmusclesandjoints.Theartofmassagecomesfromthetherapistsabilitytoassesswhichmusclesaretightandwhichmusclesareweak.Wedothisthroughpalpationandobservation.
Examining Your Conformation Findings
Nowyouwillhavetoloadthepicturesontoyourcomputer.Firsttakealookattheconformationpicturesandplacecoloreddotsonthebestpictureatthefollowinglocations.
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1.Thetopofthedorsalendofthespineofthescapula.
2.Thepointoftheshoulder.3.Thetipoftheolecranonprocessoftheulna. 4.Thecranialsuperioriliacspineofthehipbone.
5.Thebaseofthetail.6.Thelateralborderoftheischialtuberosity.7.ThecranialborderofthestiHlejoint.8.Thepointofthehock.
Youcanplacethedots,onthepictures,withasoftwareprogramlikePixelmatorforMacorPhotoshopforMacorWindows.Youcanalsoprintapictureandmarkthedogsdirectlyonapicture.Afteryouhavemarkedtheanglesonthedog,youwillhavetoascertainwhatthecorrectangulationofthelimbsisforthesixclassesofdogs.A45degreelaybackofthespineofthescapulaisnormalformostbreedsanda30degreeangleofthecroupisnormalformostbreeds.AHlatcroup,ortosteepcroup,wouldinterferewiththeHlexionorextensionofthethigh.Inbreedsthatneedmorestrengthforpulling,youmightHindaHlatorsteepcroup.Longanglesarebuiltforspeed,mediumanglesforenduranceandshortanglesforstrength.Whenwetalkaboutandmeasureangulationwearelookingatthecraniallimbs,
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caudallimbsandtheangleofthepelvis.Weshouldlookatthelengthofthecoupling,theentiretoplineoftheback,thesetoftheheadandtheslopeoftheneckaswell.Thereareasixbasictypesofdogs.
1.Sportingdogs.(rangers,springersandretrievers)
2.SportingHounds(scenttrailers,gazetrailersanddogsthatgotoground)
3.Gazehounds4.Terriers5.Workingdogs6.Toydogs
Eachofthesesixclassesofdogsshouldconformtoabreedstandardandhasoneoffourbasictypesofbodystructures.1.Lowcenterofgravity2.Terrierfronts3.Normalgalloper4.Doublesuspensiongalloper
Weshouldlooktothevariousbreedstandards,foreachdog,toHindoutwhatthecorrectangulationsshouldbeforthebreedofdogyouareassessing.Formixedbreeddogs,wewillhavetoHindahappymediumangulation.YouwillHindsomegoodinformationoncorrectangulationhere.ThebestbooktoreadisCurtisBrowns,DogLocomotion
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andGaitAnalysis.CurtisBrownsbookisverytechnicalandpreciseandisamustreadforanyonewhoreallywantstoknowmoreaboutcaninegaitandconformation.Withmixedbreedanimals,wewillhavetolookatwhatdominantbreedsaremixedintothedog.Let’stakealookatthebulldogasanexample.Wewoulddoasearchonlineandcomeupwithwhatlookslikethebestsitetoworkwith.OneofthebestsitesfortheStandardEnglishBulldogishere.Thisiswhatyouarelookingforineachbreed.Noteverybreedstandardissowellkept,soyouwillhavetodoalotofsearchingand/orgototheGoogleimagespageforthatbreed.IfweweretolookattheRottweiler,wewouldHindthatwearenotgivenasmanywelllaidoutpicturesastheStandardBulldogsite.Hereareafewlinksasexamples(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rottweiler),(http://www.a-love-of-rottweilers.com/rottweiler-breed-standard.html),(http://www.akc.org/breeds/rottweiler/index.cfm).
**BesuretochartallofyourconformationHindings.
Examining the Gait Findings
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YoushouldalreadyhaveasetofHieldnotestogofrom.YouwillnowloadthevideoyoucapturedintheHieldintoyourcomputer.Watchthevideoafewtimes,atregularspeed,andcomparewhatyouseeonthevideotoyourHieldnotes.Slowthevideodownandfreezeframesectionsthatseemirregulartoyou.Makenotesofyourobservationsandmakesuretonotethetimelinesectionwhereyouareobservingtheseregularities.MakesuretostoreyourHindings,andallofyourcharts,inafolderthatyouhavemadeforthisdog.Later,youwillwanttogobacktothismaterialtoseeifyourworkhaspositivelyaffectedthegaitandconformationofthedog.Lackofobservablechangeswillletyouknowthatyouneedtochangeyourtherapeuticmethods.Positiveobservablechangeswillletyouknowyouareontherighttrack.Thesevideoscanbeastrongmarketingtoolaswell.Theysay,"Theproofisinthepudding"andpeoplelovetoseethatthereisprogress.Manytimespeopleforgetwhatthedoglookedlikewhentheywerenotmovingcorrectlyorwhentheirconformationwasnotcorrect.HavingavideoandpictureHileisveryhelpfulinmanyways.InyourDogAnatomyColoringbooks,payparticularattentiontoPlates24,36,37,38and41whendoingtheassessment.KeeptheseplatesinmindwhenyouwatchtheDogStepsvideoaswell.Ihavegivenyouadocumentthatwillhelpyouto
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knowwhatmusclesareworkingduringtheabnormalgaitingandconformationpatterns.AgreatsoftwareapplicationtogetisDogAnatomyCanine3D.Thisapplicationwillalsohelpyouwhenyouarestudyingcanineacupressurepointlocation.ThereareseveralYouTubecanineanatomydissectionrecordingsfromTexasTechatthislinkthatcanhelpyoutolearnanatomyaswell.IfyoudoaninternetsearchforcaninedissectionsyouwillHindothervideosaswell.MillersAnatomyoftheDogistheclassiccanineanatomybookformostveterinarystudentsandisagreatresourcetohaveonhand.Ihaveanebookversionofthistext.IsuggestthatyougetebooksasmuchaspossiblebecausetheyarelightweightandarehandyresourcestohavewhenworkingintheHield.YouwillhavetostudythedeHinitionsofthedifferentactionsofmuscles,thoroughly,andlearnthenormalrangeofmotionofeachjoint.YouwillstudythesethingsintheanimalanatomysectionofthiscourseandinyourAnatomyandPhysiologyforVeterinarianTechnicianstextbook.Knowingwhichmusclesarecausingfaultygaitirregularitieswilltakesometimeandpracticetounderstand.Knowingthecausesofpoorgaitpatternscanbehardtodetermine.WeshouldHirstlooktoseeifthereisastructuraldeformitythatmightbecausingpoorgait.Ifthestructureis
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sound,thenweshoulddetermineiftheanimalhashadaninjurythatcontributedtothispoorgaitpattern.
Charting What We Observe
Oncewehavelookedatthedogsconformation,weshouldchartanyabnormalitiesonourventralanddorsalSOAPchartsforfuturereference.Weshouldalsomarkandnotatewhatweseeonourgaitandconformationchart.Whenviewingthegaitingpatterns,takepoorconformationintoconsiderationwhenyouseegaitingirregularities.Gaitandconformationassessmentskillscomefromalifetimeofobservation.Everyanimalyoulookatshouldbeasubjectforyoutoimproveyourobservationskills.Asyourobservationskillsimprove,youwillbeabletotellwhichjointsarebeingaffectedbypoorconformationandgaitingirregularities.Youwillbeabletodetectthewherethedogisfeelingpain.Thiswillhelpyoutoalleviatethatpainquicklythroughmassage,stretching,hydrotherapyandtherapeuticexercise.
Results Of Poor Gait and Poor Conformation
Whenananimalsconformationisoffbalance,theloadthatisplacedoneachjointwillhavevaryingdegreesofabnormalloadingonthejoints.
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Abnormalwearonthejoint,itsbursa,cartilage,meniscus,ligamentsandjointcapsulewilloccur.Painwillsetinasdamagetothejointsoccurs.Thedogwillstarttopullawayfromthepainbyalteringtheamountofloadthattheyputonthejoint.This,inturn,willputanabnormalloadonanopposingjoint.Whenthedogattemptstounloadthejointbyputtingtheirheaddowntoshiftweight,tothefrontfromaninjuredcaudallimb,wewillseethisinthegait.Dogsthatwalkwithalowheadsetwillbeshiftingweightontothecraniallimbsinordertoavoidpaininthehipsorcaudallimbs.Thisdogwilleventuallyendupwithjointpainintheelbowandshouldersaswell.AtightmusclewillpreventajointfromgoingthroughisfullR.O.M.(rangeofmotion)andaweakmusclewillfailtoholdthebodyandjointsinproperalignmentduringmovementofthejoints.
Making A Treatment Plan
Thenextstepistodeterminewhatmusclesarecausinganyofthegaitingirregularitiesthatyouareseeing.MakesuretochartyourHindingsinyourSOAPnotes.Oncewehaveassessedtheconformationandgaittodeterminewhatimbalancesarepresent,andwhytheseimbalanceexist,wecangivestretching,strengtheningand
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balanceexercisesfortheclienttodoathometohelppreventdamagetoajointorstructure.Makeatreatmentplanonhowtoloosenthetightmusclesandstrengthentheweakmuscles.Usethestrengtheningandbalanceexercises,alongwiththestretchingyouwilllearninclass,tohelpthedogtogetbackintothebestbalancethattheycanaccommodate.Ifthestructuretheyaregivenishandicappedfrombirth,thenthebestyoucandoistorelievesomeofthepainthattheyareexperiencing.Trynottooverwhelmanimalsthathavepoorstructuralconformation.Theywillgettoosoreandyoucancausemoredamagetothejointsfromoverstretchingandoverexercise.Dogswithgeneticstructuralanomalieshavelearnedtoadapttotheseirregularities.Tryingtocorrecttheseirregularitieswillthrowtheadaptivealignmentout.DogsthathavehadsurgicalappliancesandrestraintsplacedtotheirROMshouldbetreatedwithcautionaswell.Concentrateonpainreliefandtreatingtheopposingjointsandmusclesthatarenowtakingtheloadduetothedogsweightshiftingawayfromthetrauma.Alsorememberthatpostsurgically,thedogwillalwaysbeshiftingawayfromtheareathathadthesurgeryandoverloadingtheopposingstructures.Inacutemassagetreatments,concentrateontheopposingstructureswith
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massageandstretching.OncethedoghashealedsufHicientlyfromthesurgery,youcanstarttomassagetheareaaroundthesurgeryanddojointrangeofmotionexercisesafterthesurgeonhasgiventheapproval.ThecaninerehabcardswillhelpyouHigureoutwhatthebestexercisesaretodowiththedog.ThestrengtheningandbalanceexerciseslinksarebigHiles,sotheywilltakealongtimetoloadifyouhaveaslowinternetconnection.Ifyouwanttousethesecardsprofessionally,thenbuythecardsdirectlyfromCanineRehabProducts.Theywillallowyoutocopythecardstodistributetoyourclients.AlwayshavetheclientcheckwiththeirDVMtomakesurethattheexercisesandstretchingarenotgoingtohurttheirdog.Theclientcanshowthecard,thatyougivethem,tothevetandthevetcanHillintheamountofrepetitions,durationandintervalsforeachsuggestedactivity.Iftheclientdoesn’twanttogotothevet,thenmakesuretheclientunderstandsthat"lessismore"inthebeginningofanyexerciseregime.Buildupslowlysothattheanimaldoesn’tgetsoreorinjured.Iftheanimalislimpingthenextday,ordoesn’twanttoloadajoint,thenhavetheclientbackoffontheamountofexercisesandstretchesuntiltheanimalisrestedandhealedupagain.
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Sometimeswaterexercisesarebestforanimalsthatarerehabbingfromsurgeryorwhoareelderly.Thebuoyancyofwaterhelpstotakeloadoffofthejoints.Awordofcaution;inCalifornia,andinsomeotherstates,theveterinaryboardsaregoingafter“swimtherapists”or“aquatictherapists”.Theveterinaryboardsaregettingtoomanycomplaintsaboutlackofsanitaryconditionsaswellasanimalscominghomewithallkindsofskindiseases.Swimtherapies,whendonecorrectlyandinsanitaryconditions,canworkwonderswithelderlyanimalsandanimalsthatarerecoveringfrominjuries.ThevetswanttoseeAnimalPhysicalTherapistsdoingthisworkinmoststates.Ihavehadmanypaststudentswhohavetakenawatertherapycourseandlovedoingthework.Ihavenotheardofanyofthemgettingintotroubleyet.TheIAAMBalsohasanAssociationofCanineWaterTherapyyoumightwanttocheckout.Swimtherapyisverypopularrightnow,sopleasebecomefamiliarwithit.Ifyoudon’twanttodoswimtherapyyourself,thenhaveareliablepersontoreferyourclientsto.Ananimalphysicaltherapyclinicwouldbethebestplacetoreferyourclientsto.
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Causative Factors of Gaiting and Conformation Irregularities
Someofthecausativefactorsare:1. Caraccidents2. Surgery3. Poorhandling4. Injuriesfromsportingevents,playingor
hiking5. Overexercising6. Underexercised7. DogHights8. Poorgenetics9. Abusebyhumans
Thisisobviouslynotacompletelist,butitisenoughtoseethatyouwillhavetodoathoroughexaminationtodeterminewhatcausativefactorshavecontributedtotheirregularitiesyouareobserving.
Someothercausesofgaitirregularitiesare:1.Padding,pounding,crabbingorshortstiltedactiontoavoidinterferencebetweenfrontandbacklegs.Ifthebodyistoshort,thestridetolongorthetimingisoffthedogwillhavetosidestepandrunlikeacrab.
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2. A dog with it’s head down consistently is probably shifting weight off of the hind quarters due to an injury there. If head is heavy, lowering it will move the center line of gravity forward. This dog will also show some injury at some point to the carpals or shoulder joint due to the the increased weight and pounding placed on the front assembly.3. Elbowing out can be caused by a thickening of the sub scapular muscles which push out the superior border of the scapula.4. If the cranial limb foot pads are not under the center of gravity, the pastern and pad will take a beating wherever the dog stands, strides or steps. If the pad is behind the center line of gravity, the pastern will be too straight to set it under the correct weight bearing point. The weight will be carried on the toes or digits rather than on the heel of the pad. The foot may break down and flatten out or the pastern will go down below the angle at which its natural structure is intended to be. In the case of a pad that is in front of the center line of gravity, the heel will have a tendency to roll backward thereby putting weight on the sesamoid bone; at the same time throwing the navicular bone out. 5. The croup should be at a 30 degree angle. A flat croup or steep croup would interfere with the flexion or extension of the thigh. You might find a flat or steep croup in breeds that need more strength for pulling.6. A sway back could be caused by improper angulation of vertebra or weak ligaments and muscles.
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7. A flat croup may indicate weak loin muscles.8. A camel back starts at the withers versus the roach back which starts at the loin and is caused by improper angulation of the lumbar vertebra.9. A 45 degree layback of the spine of the scapula is best to prevent padding and pounding.10. Single tracking is not necessarily a fault. It brings support at the center line of gravity and also brings more speed.11. Cow hocks can be useful for dogs who pull sleds or other weight but is a fault in most dogs.12. There are more injuries of the front assembly then the rear assembly. This is due to the level of impact as the body moves through the center line of gravity and the weight of the body & head shift forward onto the front support. Most of the thrust comes from the rear assembly and the shift of the bodies weight is absorbed by the front assembly. Generally,atightmusclewillpullthebonesoutoflineandwillalsoweakentheopposingmuscle.Theopposingmusclewillhavetoworkagainstthetightmuscleandwillbecomeweak.Wewanttostretchthemusclethathasbeenshortened,fromoveruse,andstrengthentheopposingmuscle.Bothshouldbedonetobringthestructurebackintobalance.LookingatyourownbodywillafHirmthis.Ifyouoverworkonesideofyourbody,themuscleswillbecomebiggerandtighterandwill
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pullortwistyoutoonesideandbendyoubackwardsorforwards.Ifyoudon’tstretchthemuscle,youwillremaindistorted.Ifyoudostretchthemuscleandfascia,butfailtopullthebodybackintoalignmentthroughstrengtheningtheoppositemuscles,youwon’tbeabletomaintainthenewalignmentachievedthroughstretching.
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