Laurie's Blogs.

 

06
Mar 2021

REHAB CORRELATIONS

Last month I did a survey.  It was about rehab correlations.  Things you’ve noticed as a rehab practitioner that go together.  My example was, cruciate injury and trigger points in the Quads, Sartorius, and Tensor fascia lata.  Thank you to those that participated in the survey!  There were a number of good responses that I wanted to share with everyone!  Enjoy the read and getting your ‘brain juices’ flowing!


 

So, here we go!



Question 1:  How would you best describe your canine rehab caseload? (i.e. post-op ortho, neuro dogs, sporting dogs, aging dogs) List what applies.

 

The majority replied that they treat post-op orthopaedic dogs, neurologic dogs, and aging dogs.  Only one respondent said all of the above (in other words, some sporting dogs too)! 

 

Question 2: What correlations have you found clinically (i.e. First rib and medial shoulder hypermobility?  Cruciate deficiency and trigger points in sartorius & TFL?) - list any or as many as you've noted.

 

  • •Cruciate deficiency and hypertonicity and trigger points in TFL and Sartorius, 
  • •Elbow dysplasia and trigger points over lumbar Epaxials – I frequently refer back and diagnostics reveal lumbar spondylosis. 
  • •Osteoarthritis of coxofemoral joint and hypertonicity and trigger points in Sartorius and/or TFL 
  • •Spondylosis lumbar spine and trigger points Latissimus dorsi 
  • •CCL deficiency and trigger points of Omotransvarsarius and or Brachiocepalicus in opposite diagonal
  • •DJD in a joint of pelvic limb and kyphosis of thoracolumbar spine 
  • •DJD of joint of thoracic limb and hypertonicity and sometimes kyphosis of lumbar spine 
  • •Multiple joint DJD of thoracic and pelvic limbs and hypertonicity and trigger points over thoracolumbar Epaxials

 

  • •Cruciate - Tight in hip and sore on opposite stifle, sometimes opposite forelimb is sore too, mid thoracic trigger points
  • •Carpal post ops - shoulder and upper back
  • •DM, FCE, and IVDD - shoulders, neck, forelimbs
  • •FHO - Surgical hip of course is painful, hip on opposite side may be painful, and mid thoracic area trigger points

 

  • •Cruciate deficiency and trigger points in the Sartorius, plus iliopsoas pain 
  • •Hip pain and iliopsoas pain 
  • •Old dogs with hip arthritis or lower back pain and latissimus trigger points

 

  • •Lumbar pain in bilateral medial patella luxation 

 

  • •First rib & cervical spine with all sorts of front limb issues - possible tendonopathy, hypersensitivity to touch, perhaps referred tenderness (?)
  • •Patella luxations with trigger points sartorious and iliopsoas, plus tenderness at a variety of spinal joints possibly at iliopsoas origins. Sometimes cruciate issues as well with this. 

 

  • •Well I'm a chiro not a physio so perhaps my perspective is a little different but I find if the atlas is either dorso/ventrally or cranial/caudally misaligned it has an effect on pelvic balance and weight bearing through the hindquarters.

 

  • •Polyradiculitis and a painful increase of the femoral nerve
  • •Paraplegia is associated increase of shoulder movement

 

 

Question 3.  Is there anything else you’d like to say?

 

  • •99.9% of dogs I get referred for a specific problem have secondary problems due to compensation.
  • •I try to think about the body as a balanced system and it helps me to focus on the whole patient instead of limiting my focus on the specific surgical site or injured site. I usually use the reference of the old "the hip bones connected to the.... " song to help me with that! I look for overall symmetry too.
  • •Love to talk more and know more about these correlations
  • •It's always like a fun puzzle!

 

So many good comments here!  I love the listing of correlations.  It makes me think back to when I was teaching more regularly in the introductory courses.  One thing I would make the students do was get on their hands and knees and think about how the body would turn, shift, or move when doing an exercise (as an example).  The same hold true for thinking about compensations.  If you are a quadruped that is off-loading a rear limb, how to you transfer weight?  Which muscles hold you in place?  How does your spine bend to compensate?  Where are all of the places you could redistribute your weight towards?  Opposite rear, opposite front?  Both fronts?  Ipsilateral front?  How does it change how you get up from lying?  And so on.  Don’t be afraid to get on all 4’s and think about these things!  It isn’t about memorizing correlations, but rather looking for them.  To start, a list like the one above will be useful… but as time goes on you will start to discover more!



 

Thanks again to those that took part!  I hope everyone finds this discussion useful!  

Until next time… Cheers!   

Laurie

 



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