Gait Phases
In hydrotherapy for small animals, understanding the phases of gait is essential for assessing and improving their movement patterns. Each phase plays a crucial role in the overall gait cycle and can provide valuable insights into the animal’s mobility and potential issues that need to be addressed.
Stance Phase
The stance phase is the period when the limb is in contact with the ground, providing support and stability for the animal. During this phase, two essential time-related measurements are considered:
Stance Time (Stance Duration)
Stance time refers to the duration that a limb remains in contact with the ground during the gait cycle. This measurement starts when the limb makes initial contact with the ground (touchdown) and ends when the limb leaves the ground (lift-off). Stance time is vital for assessing weight-bearing and load distribution on each limb, which can help identify areas of potential pain or weakness.
Stride Length
Stride length measures the distance covered by a limb while it remains in contact with the ground during one complete gait cycle. It is crucial for assessing the animal’s overall mobility and efficiency of movement. Changes in stride length may indicate compensatory mechanisms or specific gait abnormalities that need to be addressed.
Swing Phase
The swing phase is the period when the limb is not in contact with the ground, and it transitions from flexion to extension (or vice versa) as the animal takes a step.
Lift Off
Lift off occurs at the beginning of the swing phase when the limb starts to leave the ground. It signifies the initiation of limb movement and is crucial for propulsion and forward motion.
Touchdown
Touchdown happens at the end of the swing phase when the limb makes contact with the ground again. Proper touchdown is essential for ensuring stability and preparing the limb for the subsequent stance phase.
Understanding the different phases of gait, along with their associated measurements, allows hydrotherapists to assess an animal’s gait pattern thoroughly. By analysing stride length, stance time, swing phase, lift off, and touchdown, practitioners can identify asymmetries, compensatory mechanisms, and areas of weakness or discomfort. Tailoring hydrotherapy interventions based on this knowledge can help improve the animal’s gait mechanics, restore function, and enhance their overall quality of life.
Analysing Gait Patterns
Gait analysis in dogs is a vital component of assessing their locomotion and identifying potential gait abnormalities. Understanding the different ballistic gaits and using appropriate tools can help accurately quantify and address any gait-related issues. Here’s a breakdown of the process and some key gait patterns:
Normal Gait – Walk:
The walk is the slowest gait and involves alternating between two feet and three feet on the ground. The footfall sequence is LH, LF, RH, RF. During the walk, there is a propulsive phase of the hind limbs, requiring core stability and stability through the forelimbs. The dog’s head carriage should be forward during this gait. When observing the dog from the front, if the forelimbs cross over the midline, it is referred to as “plaiting.”
Normal Gait – Canter:
The canter is a more complex gait, with dogs using two different styles: transverse and rotary canter. The rotary canter gives the dog a rolling appearance, especially when viewed from the rear. In transverse canter, the sequence is RH, LH, RF, LF, while in rotary canter, it is RH, LH, LF, RF.
Normal Gait – Gallop:
The gallop is a powerful gait where the dog’s highly muscular and flexible spine and abdomen produce two moments of suspension, followed by alternately striking the ground with the forelimbs or hind limbs. Similar to the canter, different lead legs are used for the front and rear limbs during the gallop. If the RF is the lead, the sequence is RH, LH, LF, RF.
Abnormal Gait – The Amble:
The amble occurs when a dog speeds up gradually during a walk, and the front limb moves forward soon after the hind limb, creating the appearance that both limbs on the same side of the body move forward together. As long as there are moments where three feet are on the ground, even briefly, it is still classified as a walk. Dogs may use the amble when they are tired but want to move quickly and use different muscle groups compared to trotting.
Abnormal Gait – The Pace:
If a dog ambling speeds up further, it may begin to pace. The pace is characterised by both limbs on the same side of the body moving forward simultaneously, with only two feet on the ground, followed by a period of suspension. The center of gravity shifts from side to side, requiring the dog to expend energy centering the body instead of driving forward. Pacing dogs have usually been trained this way or may have physical issues preventing them from feeling comfortable trotting.
Hypermetric Gait:
Hypermetric gait refers to an exaggerated movement in one leg, which can also affect the corresponding hind limb. This abnormal gait is usually caused by neurological or muscular issues and requires careful evaluation and treatment.
Weight-Bearing:
Normal weight-bearing in dogs involves distributing about 60% of the weight through the forelimbs and 40% through the hind limbs. Changes in weight-bearing can be observed when the dog is standing and can be accurately measured using force plates and gait analysis treadmills and walkways.
By employing gait analysis and recognising the various gaits and potential abnormalities, veterinarians and hydrotherapists can develop targeted rehabilitation and therapy plans to improve the dog’s mobility and overall well-being.
In Depth analysis of gait patterning
Analysing a dog’s gait in detail is a crucial aspect of assessing their mobility and identifying any abnormalities or issues that may require attention. To conduct an in-depth analysis, hydrotherapists and veterinarians need to consider various gait parameters and observations. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to undertake a comprehensive gait analysis:
Familiarise with Terminology:
Understand the essential terminology used in gait analysis, such as speed, touchdown, liftoff, stride duration, stance phase duration, swing phase duration, stride length, stance phase length, and swing phase length. This will help accurately quantify the dog’s movement patterns.
Understand Muscle Function:
Have a solid understanding of the functions of back muscles, forelimb (FL) muscles, and hind limb (HL) muscles. This knowledge will aid in assessing any muscle imbalances or weaknesses that may affect the gait.
Observe the Following Parameters:
During the gait analysis, focus on the following key parameters:
- Order of Footfall: Note the sequence in which the paws touch the ground during each gait.
- Stance Time: Measure the duration that a limb remains in contact with the ground during the stance phase.
- Swing Phase: Assess the duration that a limb is lifted off the ground during the swing phase.
- Deceleration or Acceleration: Observe if any limb exhibits abnormal deceleration or acceleration during the gait.
- Lameness Scoring: Evaluate any signs of lameness using appropriate scoring systems.
- Weight-Bearing: Assess how weight is distributed between the forelimbs and hind limbs.
- Touchdown: Note the point at which each paw makes contact with the ground.
- Stride Length: Measure the distance covered by the dog’s trunk between two consecutive touchdowns of the same limb.
- Liftoff: Observe when each paw breaks contact with the ground during the gait.
- Pelvic Motion: Evaluate whether the pelvic motion is symmetrical during movement.
- Overall Body Symmetry: Assess if the entire body is moving symmetrically during gait.
- Pulling Behaviour: Identify if the dog tends to pull its centre of gravity through the thoracic limbs.
- Joint Movements: Look for signs of extension, flexion, abduction, adduction, rotation, circumduction, protraction, and retraction in each limb.
- Pronation and Supination: Observe if the dog’s feet roll inward (pronation) or outward (supination) during gait.