This is an article from our latest APG (Animal Physio. Group) newsletter of the APA regarding research:
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| Research Update |
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You may be aware that research on animal physiotherapy can be light on the ground. Here are a few more recently published article summaries related to our field! n Hind limb kinematics during therapeutic exercises in dogs with osteoarthritis of the hip joints. By Bockstahler BA, Prickler B, Lewy E, Holler PJ, Vobornik A, Peham C from the Animal Journal of Veterinary Research, 2012 Sep;73(9):1371-6. n This study compared the hip joint kinematics (with high speed cameras and reflective markers) of walking up and down a slope and over low obstacles in 10 dogs with hip osteoarthritis and 8 dogs without known hip osteoarthritis. They found that dogs with an osteoarthritic hip had reduced hip extension bilaterally and also reduced flexion of the contralateral hind limb, compared with flexion of the lame hind limb, during walking down a slope. Dogs with an osteoarthritis hip had decreased stifle extension bilaterally with significantly reduced stifle extension on the lame hind while walking up a slope. While walking over low obstacles, stifle flexion was maximised on the contralateral hind limb and tarsal flexion was maximised bilaterally. This emphasises they compensation at other joints and the consideration that must be given when prescribing slope or obstacle work. n Equine tendonitis therapy using mesenchymal stem cells and platelet concentrates: a randomized controlled trial. n A mid length Superficial Digital Flexor tendon lesion was induced in 8 mixed breed horses, which was treated with mesenchymal stem cells (derived from adipose tissue), two weeks after the lesion was made. Progress was monitored with an ultrasound scan every fortnight. After 16 weeks a tissue biopsy was also taken to compare histopathology. Results showed that stem cell therapy prevented the lesion progression (i.e. size of lesion), collagen fibres were more organised and there was decreased inflammation and an increased blood flow to the area. This demonstrates the potential of stem cell therapy in the treatment of tendon lesions which may be used as an adjunct with physiotherapy in tendon rehabilitation. n Exercises in canine physical rehabilitation: range of motion of the forelimb during stair and ramp ascent. n Forelimb kinematics of 8 healthy dogs while ascending stairs/slope was compared to trotting on a flat surface. Non-surprisingly it was found that while ascending stairs or a slope, forelimb joint ranges were greater than when trotting on a flat surface. However, joint ranges (in particular shoulder flexion/ extension, elbow extension and carpal flexion) were significantly greater when going up a slope rather than ascending stairs. Shoulder extension was also greater when trotting on the flat compared to ascending stairs. You therefore may want to consider ramp/ slope work over stair work during exercise prescription, if greater forelimb joint range is desired! n |
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