Laurie's Blogs.

Another patient question: I have a 3 yr old pit bull owned by a rescue with a congenital limb deformity. It’s a tiny deformed, nonfunctional right front leg that just dangles a bit (think T Rex). The problem is that the "good" leg has some really funky compensations going on. So, this girl’s rear legs are longer so she slopes down to her front end. Her left shoulder has hugely increased abduction(no pain), her chest sags down, her elbow rotates out and her paw is nearly centered under her chest. Her triceps are tiny compared to her biceps!! Nothing hurts on her but she never sits. And when she walks her chest and tiny T-Rex arm almost hit the ground as she catches herself. Do you think hobbles could help hold her shoulder in enough for us to work on strengthening her triceps? I can use a harness to assist her hold her chest up too. I don’t have water access for her.

Thanks! – S

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S- Another great question! So, I think it is a common mindset that we always want to get the patient moving as the therapy. However, in this case, I think you would see improvements simply with standing practice. Standing on a flat surface, standing up on blocks (i.e. two cinderblocks), standing on a raised 10 inch wide plank, standing on a slightly uneven surface... with YOU positioning the leg in a more normal position. Your goal being to increase activation of the triceps... perhaps on the flat surface, get her to move her head to get a cookie (while you hold her forelimb in a proper position). Try standing practice with rear legs higher, then with front legs higher.

I don't think hobbles will work because you don't have two front legs - so you can't anchor... and besides that, she might not be strong enough to deal with it, and end up doing a face-plant on you! Even with the standing practice, you may need to also use the harness when you start to play around with the remaining front leg. And, you could e-stim the triceps as you do these exercises.

Let me know how it goes!

Laurie

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Thanks, Laurie! I tried getting her to stand normally while holding a cookie above her head (she tends to immediately drop to the ground in a slide when she stops moving) but I wasn't able to hold her shoulder with only one hand. I will see if the foster can assist me next time.

Thanks!!! You're the best!!!

S

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Ah ha! See! A perfect example of how 'static' exercise is needed. She is the way she is because she's not learned how to use herself properly. She will continue to be dysfunctional in movement if she is dysfunctional in stance! 

Laurie