Kinematics of stair ascent in healthy dogs

Summary

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the kinematic characteristics of pelvic limb joints in orthopaedically normal dogs during stair ascent.

Design: Prospective study.

Procedure: Eight hound-type dogs were fitted with reflective spheres at palpable landmarks, including the tuber ischium, greater trochanter, cranial dorsal iliac spine, lateral epicondyle of the femur, lateral malleolus, and the base of the fifth metatarsal bone. Each dog was walked up a set of custom made stairs consisting of four steps and then trotted across a level test space. Data were recorded for the right and left pelvic limbs during ascent. Maximum and minimum joint angles and total joint motion were calculated for all joints and evaluated statistically.

Results: Pelvic limb joints had a greater total joint excursion during stair ascent. There was greater extension of the coxofemoral and tibiotarsal joints during ascent, whereas the stifle joint had less extension. Maximum flexion of the stifle and tarsal joints was significantly greater in stair ascent. There was not any significant difference between the right and left limbs.

Conclusions: All joints of the pelvic limb undergo a greater joint motion to ascend stairs.

Keywords

Kinematics - stairs - pelvic limb - therapeutic exercise

• References

• 1 Bockstahler B, Millis DL, Levine D. et al. Methods of Physiotherapy. In: Bockstahler B, Levine D, Millis DL. Editors Essential facts of physiotherapy in dogs and cats. Babenhausen (Germany): BE VetVerLag; 2004: 64-65.
• 2 Hamilton s, Millis DL, Taylor RA. et al. Therapeutic Exercises. In: Millis DL, Levine D, Taylor RA. Editors Canine Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy. St. Louis: Saunders; 2004: 244-263.
• 3 Andriacchi TP, Anderson GBJ, Fermier RW. et al. A study of lower-limb mechanics during stair-climbing. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1980; 62A: 749-757.
• 4 Protopapadaki A, Drechsler WI, Cramp MC. et al. Hip, knee, ankle kinematics and kinetics during stair ascent and descent in healthy young individuals. Clin Biomech 2007; 22: 203-210.
• 5 Meyers MC, Sterling JC, Marley RR. Efficacy of stairclimber versus cycle ergometry in postoperative anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation. Clin J Sports Med 2002; 12: 85-94.
• 6 Beynnon BD, Johnson RJ, Abate JA. et al. Treatment of anterior cruciate ligament injuries, Part 2. Am J Sports Med 2005; 33: 1751-1767.
• 7 Beynnon BD, Uh BS, Johnson RJ. et al. Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison of programs administered over 2 different time intervals. Am J Sports Med 2005; 33: 347-359.
• 8 Costigan PA, Deluzio KJ, Wyss UP. Knee and hip kinetics during normal stair climbing. Gait Posture 2002; 16: 31-37.
• 9 Thambyah A, Thiagarajan P, Goh Cho Hong J. Knee joint moments during stair climbing of patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency. Clin Biomech 2004; 19: 489-496.
• 10 Jaegger G, Marcellin-Little DJ, Levine D. Reliability of goniometry in Labrador retrievers. Am J Vet Res 2002; 63: 979-986.
• 11 DeCamp CE, Soutas-Little RW, Hauptman J. et al. Kinematic gait analysis of the trot in healthy greyhounds. Am J Vet Res 1993; 54: 627-634.
• 12 Hottinger H, DeCamp CE, Olivier B. et al. Non invasive kinematic analysis of the walk in healthy large breed dogs. Am J Vet Res 1996; 57: 381-388.
• 13 DeCamp Kinetic and kinematic gait analysis and the assessment of lameness in the dog. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 1997; 27: 825-840.
• 14 Schaefer SL, DeCamp CE, Hauptman JG. et al. Kinematic gait analysis of hind limb symmetry in dogs at the trot. Am J Vet Res 1998; 59: 680-685.
• 15 Allen K, DeCamp CE, Braden TD. et al. Kinematic gait analysis of the trot in healthy mixed breed dogs. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 1994; 7: 148-153.
• 16 Marsolais GS, McLean S, Derrick T. et al. Kinematic analysis of the hind limb during swimming and walking in healthy dogs and dogs with surgically corrected cranial cruciate ligament rupture. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003; 222: 739-743.
• 17 Richards J, Holler P, Bockstahler B. et al. A comparison of human and canine kinematics during level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent. Wien Tierärztl Mschr 2010; 97: 92-100.
• 18 Livingston LA, Stevenson JM, Olney SJ. Stairclimbing kinematics on stairs of differing dimensions. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1991; 72: 398-402.
• 19 Riener R, Rabuffetti M, Frigo C. Stair ascent and descent at different inclinations. Gait Posture 2002; 15: 32-44.
• 20 Nadeau S, McFadyen BJ, Malouin F. Frontal and sagittal plane analyses of the stair climbing task in healthy adults aged over 40 years: what are the challenges compared to level walking?. Clin Biomech 2003; 18: 950-959.
• 21 Colborne GR, Walker AM, Tattersall AJ. et al. Effect of trotting velocity on work patterns of the hind limbs of Greyhounds. Am J Vet Res 2006; 67: 1293-1298.
• 22 Budsberg SC, Jevens DJ, Brown J. et al. Evaluation of limb symmetry indices using ground reaction forces in healthy dogs. Am J Vet Res 1993; 54: 1569-1573.
• 23 Colborne GR. Are sound dogs mechanically symmetric at a trot? No, actually. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2008; 21: 294-301.