Gait Analysis and Locomotion Assessment Flashcards
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Why is subjective gait observation performed at both a walk and a trot in veterinary chiropractic assessment?
Answer: Because the trot amplifies subtle asymmetries due to increased speed and diagonal limb coupling
The trot amplifies movement asymmetries due to increased speed and diagonal coupling, making subtle lamenesses and compensatory patterns more visible than at the slower walk.
What does reduced thoracolumbar flexibility observed during locomotion assessment suggest in a chiropractic context?
Answer: Possible vertebral subluxation complex or restricted facet joint motion in that region
Reduced thoracolumbar flexibility during locomotion is a key indicator of vertebral subluxation complex, restricted facet joints, or paraspinal hypertonia warranting chiropractic evaluation.
Which neurological test, performed during gait assessment, evaluates the integrity of conscious proprioceptive pathways in dogs?
Answer: Paw replacement (proprioceptive positioning) test
The paw replacement test assesses conscious proprioception by placing the paw in an abnormal position; delayed or absent correction indicates dysfunction of ascending proprioceptive pathways.
What role does proprioception play in normal animal locomotion?
Answer: It provides real-time sensory feedback about limb position and movement to enable coordinated gait
Proprioception delivers continuous sensory feedback from joints, muscles, and tendons to the CNS about limb position and movement, which is essential for coordinated and balanced locomotion.
In horses, a consistent 'hip hike' (elevation of one tuber coxae) during trotting most commonly indicates dysfunction in which region?
Answer: Sacroiliac joint or lumbosacral region on the ipsilateral side
A consistent hip hike during trotting, where one tuber coxae elevates more than the other, is a classic clinical sign of sacroiliac joint dysfunction or lumbosacral pain on the same side.
Which instrument provides objective, real-time measurement of dorsoventral movement asymmetry in horses during trotting and is commonly used in equine chiropractic evaluations?
Answer: Inertial sensor system (e.g., Lameness Locator)
Inertial sensor systems such as the Lameness Locator use sensors on the head, pelvis, and right forelimb to objectively quantify dorsoventral movement asymmetries and generate numerical lameness indices during trotting.
After a successful chiropractic adjustment to the lumbosacral region of a horse, which gait change would be the most expected immediate positive outcome?
Answer: Improved hindlimb overtracking and an increased caudal phase of the stride
Restoring normal lumbosacral motion typically results in improved hindlimb engagement, greater overtracking, and a longer caudal phase due to reduced pain and restored range of motion at the propulsive junction.