Athletic Levels
Evaluation of performance, conformation, or lameness is dependent upon the expectations of the individual animal. If the pet owner is only interested in companionship, minimal stress will be put upon the body. As the athletic demands of the owner increase there is a proportional increase in the physical demands placed upon the animal's body. These increased demands placed upon the animal introduce a higher risk of injury.
In athletic competition, the body is operating at its physical limits in an organized event. The animals must be prepared for the rigors of competition, supervised during the competition, and cared for appropriately following their workout.
Performance
Within the structure of the event there are rules and regulations that define the competition. The competition structure defines the factors of performance . For example, in an agility competition each competitor is timed while going through a series of obstacles. They are judged on time and how they handled each of the obstacles. The Frisbee competition is a two part competition. One part based on the ability to make a number of catches in a defined period of time. Followed by the other part, which is a free-style competition that is judged by the acrobatic performance of the dog and the routine designed by the handler. Each competition places different demands on the dog. There are certain factors that are common to all athletic events. The external factors of performance include the design and boundaries of the event, the environmental conditions, and the handler. The internal factors of performance include the athlete's anatomy, psychology, training, conditioning, and health.
Locomotion
Motion is the one common component of all athletic competition. Motion is a result of a combination of nerves stimulating muscle to move bone. Abnormal motion occurs when this chain of events is disrupted. Locomotion of an animal is described as its gait. The walk, trot, and gallop are three forms of gait. The walk and trot are symmetrical gaits. In this type of gait the movements of the right side mirror the movements of the left side. The gallop is an example of an asymmetrical gait , whereby the limbs of one side move in a different pattern then limbs on the other side.
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. Chondroplasia in the Alaskan
Malamute is a genetic condition that would produce a lameness. An example of an acquired
lameness would be rickets as a result of a Vitamin D, calcium, or phosphorus deficiency.
Pathological lameness can be neural or musculoskeletal. Cauda equina lesions are an
example of a neural lameness. Musculoskeletal lameness is usually caused by pain . Two
diagnostic tools to assess lameness are gait analysis and the physical exam.
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 eac
