Hi Laurie.
I have attended many of your courses when you have been in the UK and wondered if you could answer a simple question. Does 'core stability exist in the dog' and if so is it relevant?
I am a spinal physio by background and have read masses of research on core stability in humans and because we humans are upright and have a narrow base of support it makes sense we need a strong centre of gravity.
However, is this true in the dog? The concept of core has been extrapolated from human work but I cannot find any research that suggests dogs need a strong core. They are after all built differently with a lower centre of gravity and more legs on the ground.
So... my simple question is, Do you know of any research that has looked at core stability in dogs?
I cannot find any relevant research and therefore the concept of core in dogs and performance must anecdotal and an assumption that because we humans need a strong core then dogs do as well.......
Kindest Regards
Sue Ward
Does the Dog NEED core stability?
Does the Dog NEED core stability?
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES
Re: Does the Dog NEED core stability?
Hey Sue!
That is a fabulous question!! The long and short of it is that I have never seen research on ‘core stability’ on dogs.
Clinically, I feel it is less of an issue as well.
That being said, I have found some dogs with back pain / SIJ pain that have what I would call poor motor control and timing (i.e. their abdominals or glutes don’t ‘fire’ appropriately or preparatively before taking weight (when I test using a 3-leg stand - sliding a rear leg off the ground). Their pelvis drops or they cheat by hiking their leg forward / upward off the ground. This is corrected and the dog is able to do the task if I manually or electrically stimulate the abdominals or glutes. On lesser occasions, I have seen better balance / coordination with this test when I stimulate the epaxials / multifidus OR the latissimus dorsi muscles.
Is this a lack of Core or simply a muscle inhibition due to pain (at some point in time)?
The same issue can be seen with poor quads or glutes firing (with the same 3-leg slide test) in dogs with knee issues or hip issues.
Would I consider this to be ‘core’? Maybe, maybe not. I call it motor control and timing.
I have seen this same issue (pelvis drop with the 3-leg stand test) in dogs after an abdominal surgery (i.e. a spay)… THAT, I guess we might call ‘core’. Oh, and I have had some improvement with female urinary incontinence and doing the same exercise / test while stimulating the pelvic floor in these dogs prior to sliding the leg.
Core? Kinda. Or again, do these examples go back to pain at some point that ‘turned off’ the motor control aspect of their abdominal firing?
But for the large part… I think you are correct. CORE issues are not nearly as prevalent, and there is no research to back up its relevance / importance in quadrupeds.
I’d love to hear more on your thoughts as well!
Cheers,
Laurie
That is a fabulous question!! The long and short of it is that I have never seen research on ‘core stability’ on dogs.
Clinically, I feel it is less of an issue as well.
That being said, I have found some dogs with back pain / SIJ pain that have what I would call poor motor control and timing (i.e. their abdominals or glutes don’t ‘fire’ appropriately or preparatively before taking weight (when I test using a 3-leg stand - sliding a rear leg off the ground). Their pelvis drops or they cheat by hiking their leg forward / upward off the ground. This is corrected and the dog is able to do the task if I manually or electrically stimulate the abdominals or glutes. On lesser occasions, I have seen better balance / coordination with this test when I stimulate the epaxials / multifidus OR the latissimus dorsi muscles.
Is this a lack of Core or simply a muscle inhibition due to pain (at some point in time)?
The same issue can be seen with poor quads or glutes firing (with the same 3-leg slide test) in dogs with knee issues or hip issues.
Would I consider this to be ‘core’? Maybe, maybe not. I call it motor control and timing.
I have seen this same issue (pelvis drop with the 3-leg stand test) in dogs after an abdominal surgery (i.e. a spay)… THAT, I guess we might call ‘core’. Oh, and I have had some improvement with female urinary incontinence and doing the same exercise / test while stimulating the pelvic floor in these dogs prior to sliding the leg.
Core? Kinda. Or again, do these examples go back to pain at some point that ‘turned off’ the motor control aspect of their abdominal firing?
But for the large part… I think you are correct. CORE issues are not nearly as prevalent, and there is no research to back up its relevance / importance in quadrupeds.
I’d love to hear more on your thoughts as well!
Cheers,
Laurie
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES
Re: Does the Dog NEED core stability?
Hi Laurie.
Good to hear from you.
I have for a long time believed that 'core' stability is not an issue in dogs. Here in the UK and I suspect the same for you is that I see so many 'dog fit trainers' pushing core wobble board exercises to sell equipment on the pretense that working dogs need a strong core to perform their sport...... and the upshot is that people are putting these poor dogs on wobble cushions with no idea what they are doing. It is BIG business here in the UK and it sells equipment…
Core issues do exist in people... I agree with you though, it is more to do with poor motor control and firing prior to movement. There have been masses of research using EMG studies and it has been shown that the spinal stabilisers are delayed in firing in individuals with low back pain. The question there is did the poor recruitment of the stabilisers cause the back pain or vice versa.
I agree totally with your thoughts on it being a muscle recruitment / motor control issue in dogs following injury or dysfunction.
With regard to the leg slide test, do you think there might be an element in learning, i.e the dog does not understand the exercise and if repeated then there is an improvement as the dog learns to 'control' for want of a better word his 3-legged stance, and only in the true weakness or muscle issue do we see a repeat drop or lack of control?
The concept of 'core' is only seen in the pet dog working field i.e agility / flyball / trial / obedience.
The true working dogs like farm dogs that can cover up to 70 miles a day on rough ground / the working huskies covering miles upon miles of heavy sled work and racing greyhounds achieving explosives speeds don’t need 'core' exercises.
However, if injuries are not treated effectively then there can be muscle recruitment / motor control issues which could affect performance in the working dog.
I also believe in conditioning for a sport working on specific exercise that builds muscle memory / muscle rehearsal related to the sport undertaken by the dog to help improve performance and reduce potential injury.
I also think that there may be a benefit in proximal stability work for the shoulders and hips working on the small stabilisers ultimately allowing the large muscle to move the limb efficiently.
Maybe Laurie, we need to do research on whether the dog has a 'core' and its relevance in the sporting dog.....
Good to chat with you…
Regards
Sue
Good to hear from you.
I have for a long time believed that 'core' stability is not an issue in dogs. Here in the UK and I suspect the same for you is that I see so many 'dog fit trainers' pushing core wobble board exercises to sell equipment on the pretense that working dogs need a strong core to perform their sport...... and the upshot is that people are putting these poor dogs on wobble cushions with no idea what they are doing. It is BIG business here in the UK and it sells equipment…
Core issues do exist in people... I agree with you though, it is more to do with poor motor control and firing prior to movement. There have been masses of research using EMG studies and it has been shown that the spinal stabilisers are delayed in firing in individuals with low back pain. The question there is did the poor recruitment of the stabilisers cause the back pain or vice versa.
I agree totally with your thoughts on it being a muscle recruitment / motor control issue in dogs following injury or dysfunction.
With regard to the leg slide test, do you think there might be an element in learning, i.e the dog does not understand the exercise and if repeated then there is an improvement as the dog learns to 'control' for want of a better word his 3-legged stance, and only in the true weakness or muscle issue do we see a repeat drop or lack of control?
The concept of 'core' is only seen in the pet dog working field i.e agility / flyball / trial / obedience.
The true working dogs like farm dogs that can cover up to 70 miles a day on rough ground / the working huskies covering miles upon miles of heavy sled work and racing greyhounds achieving explosives speeds don’t need 'core' exercises.
However, if injuries are not treated effectively then there can be muscle recruitment / motor control issues which could affect performance in the working dog.
I also believe in conditioning for a sport working on specific exercise that builds muscle memory / muscle rehearsal related to the sport undertaken by the dog to help improve performance and reduce potential injury.
I also think that there may be a benefit in proximal stability work for the shoulders and hips working on the small stabilisers ultimately allowing the large muscle to move the limb efficiently.
Maybe Laurie, we need to do research on whether the dog has a 'core' and its relevance in the sporting dog.....
Good to chat with you…
Regards
Sue
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES
Re: Does the Dog NEED core stability?
Intelligent thoughts Sue.
In regards to my leg-slide test. I have tended to only find it present in animals that have had pain or dysfunction. But never in the ‘normal’ (non-painful / non-dysfunctional) dogs, and/or not in early stages of dysfunction (i.e. a known injury / fall etc, was witnessed by the owner and the dog is presented quickly for a check up). I believe the +ve pelvic drop with testing manifests only due to pain or long term dysfunction. That being said, I am aware of the research (Paul Hodges et al) that has found motor control & timing issues that later progress to be the root of back pain, and as such, I am open to a broader perspective than that of which I have witnessed. In regards to a ‘learned response’ to the exercise, I’ve not seen that happen without manual or electrical facilitation to ‘normalize’ the motor control deficit.
And indeed, the best summation, is that more research is needed.
Thanks again for this fabulous discussion!
Cheers,
Laurie
In regards to my leg-slide test. I have tended to only find it present in animals that have had pain or dysfunction. But never in the ‘normal’ (non-painful / non-dysfunctional) dogs, and/or not in early stages of dysfunction (i.e. a known injury / fall etc, was witnessed by the owner and the dog is presented quickly for a check up). I believe the +ve pelvic drop with testing manifests only due to pain or long term dysfunction. That being said, I am aware of the research (Paul Hodges et al) that has found motor control & timing issues that later progress to be the root of back pain, and as such, I am open to a broader perspective than that of which I have witnessed. In regards to a ‘learned response’ to the exercise, I’ve not seen that happen without manual or electrical facilitation to ‘normalize’ the motor control deficit.
And indeed, the best summation, is that more research is needed.
Thanks again for this fabulous discussion!
Cheers,
Laurie
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES
Re: Does the Dog NEED core stability?
So I am going to rephrase the question. Do dogs require strong muscles around their abdomen and back? To answer ‘no’ seems quite ludicrous to me. Given their quadraped status, the impact of weakness is different than in humans but still can have consequences. I started in this business because of dog agility and after training three dogs and treating many agility dogs, core work is part of my dogs’ fitness program. I also have had a number of show dogs come to me with poor top lines. Not knowing what else to do, I did core work with them and their top lines improved and the handlers/ breeders were ecstatic. I agree there is no evidence in the literature but let’s not throw out core work because of that. An area for research for sure!
Re: Does the Dog NEED core stability?
I guess Lorna, the thinking is a little around the concept of 'Core Stability' in general. Even on the human side of things, we are finding that 'Core Stability' has been a bit of a fad. Sport / private practice physio prescribed it to everyone with back pain for a time. But it didn't necessarily help. I've heard argument that we should be training our 'core muscles' just like we would any other muscle - with load. I've heard that we should focus more on controlled movement and dynamic tasks.
Yes, people (and dogs) need strong muscles, and I agree, I've seen dogs with poor toplines do well with strengthening. But does that resolve with what we are terming core stability exercises, or generalize fitness? I guess this is a bit of a call to define what and how we do things to improve performance and function. And to look at creating a well rounded fitness program. And if we create a well rounded fitness program, does a dog still need specific core stability exercises? As the original question points out, cattle/herding dogs, racing greyhounds, sled dogs don't tend to do core exercises. Are they less fit? No. This concept and phenomenon has been created for the agility, flyball, obedience, trial group. And that point alone is one that needs contemplation.
Should we be thinking about exercise prescription differently? Are there different kinds of exercises we should be prescribing? How do we even determine or test for core stability?
I just thought it was a really interesting question, and figured it was interesting enough to engage in discussion around it. So, thank you for your input. I hope many others will join in.
Cheers,
Laurie
Yes, people (and dogs) need strong muscles, and I agree, I've seen dogs with poor toplines do well with strengthening. But does that resolve with what we are terming core stability exercises, or generalize fitness? I guess this is a bit of a call to define what and how we do things to improve performance and function. And to look at creating a well rounded fitness program. And if we create a well rounded fitness program, does a dog still need specific core stability exercises? As the original question points out, cattle/herding dogs, racing greyhounds, sled dogs don't tend to do core exercises. Are they less fit? No. This concept and phenomenon has been created for the agility, flyball, obedience, trial group. And that point alone is one that needs contemplation.
Should we be thinking about exercise prescription differently? Are there different kinds of exercises we should be prescribing? How do we even determine or test for core stability?
I just thought it was a really interesting question, and figured it was interesting enough to engage in discussion around it. So, thank you for your input. I hope many others will join in.
Cheers,
Laurie
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES
Re: Does the Dog NEED core stability?
SW,
-----------"Does 'core stability exist in the dog' and if so is it relevant?"------------
I am so intrigued by your question!! I read it earlier today and cannot get it off my mind!
Let me begin by saying that there is a rehab discussion group most all of us frequent that once produced this type of stimulating questions, however, unfortunately it has become the domain of a few that provide little stimulation of thought for me personally. I prefer to be challenged, that is why I rejoined Laurie's group. Thank you for offering a challenge!! I to question many things, that is my nature, nice to hear from someone with similar desire!
I have been seriously contemplating how to answer your question and what to discuss first. I don't know if I have properly organized a serious argument and/or response but here goes.
1) It is without question that the core of dogs is different than people. Four legs on the ground are different that two. However, in dog athletes I think they need a strong foundation to counter pelvic limb propulsion. In my opinion the power of a canine athlete is directly related to the strength and coordination of the their driving force, the pelvic limbs. Do I have evidence based papers to back up this statement, NO!!
2) In my opinion, to generate power in and from the pelvic limbs there must be a good foundation to oppose the force. That foundation is the result of a steady pelvis, lumbar and thoracic spine. These structures are stabilized by the dorsal cervical, thoracic and lumbar paraspinals, the ventral lumbar para spinals and the gluteals. I am of the opinion that the abdominals are much less important in the dog, just look at the anatomical size of the muscles described above to see what is stressed the most.
3) Unlike the human athlete, tremendous spinal flexion and extension is required for high speed ambulation. The above muscles are directly involved in this process. In a rotary gallop, with two distinct suspension phases, these muscles must attain near maximum contraction and extension. Their degree of conditioning and strength are directly related to their ability to accomplish these movements. Whether one defines this as core body strength or just strength in paraspinals and gluteals, it is still of utmost importance!! Exercises designed to increase strength in these muscles can only help the canine athlete!! The devices and training you refer to as a "FAD" really do have a place in the conditioning of these athletes!
4) I would love to hear your and Laurie's thoughts on "motor control and timing." I hear PTs mention this often but never really have understood your theories as to why this occurs. If this and muscle inhibition is brought about by pain, then where and why is there pain? Is this a joint issue, a muscle issue or a combination of both? How might this effect the core body strength in dogs?
Fascinating discussion!!
Rick
-----------"Does 'core stability exist in the dog' and if so is it relevant?"------------
I am so intrigued by your question!! I read it earlier today and cannot get it off my mind!
Let me begin by saying that there is a rehab discussion group most all of us frequent that once produced this type of stimulating questions, however, unfortunately it has become the domain of a few that provide little stimulation of thought for me personally. I prefer to be challenged, that is why I rejoined Laurie's group. Thank you for offering a challenge!! I to question many things, that is my nature, nice to hear from someone with similar desire!
I have been seriously contemplating how to answer your question and what to discuss first. I don't know if I have properly organized a serious argument and/or response but here goes.
1) It is without question that the core of dogs is different than people. Four legs on the ground are different that two. However, in dog athletes I think they need a strong foundation to counter pelvic limb propulsion. In my opinion the power of a canine athlete is directly related to the strength and coordination of the their driving force, the pelvic limbs. Do I have evidence based papers to back up this statement, NO!!
2) In my opinion, to generate power in and from the pelvic limbs there must be a good foundation to oppose the force. That foundation is the result of a steady pelvis, lumbar and thoracic spine. These structures are stabilized by the dorsal cervical, thoracic and lumbar paraspinals, the ventral lumbar para spinals and the gluteals. I am of the opinion that the abdominals are much less important in the dog, just look at the anatomical size of the muscles described above to see what is stressed the most.
3) Unlike the human athlete, tremendous spinal flexion and extension is required for high speed ambulation. The above muscles are directly involved in this process. In a rotary gallop, with two distinct suspension phases, these muscles must attain near maximum contraction and extension. Their degree of conditioning and strength are directly related to their ability to accomplish these movements. Whether one defines this as core body strength or just strength in paraspinals and gluteals, it is still of utmost importance!! Exercises designed to increase strength in these muscles can only help the canine athlete!! The devices and training you refer to as a "FAD" really do have a place in the conditioning of these athletes!
4) I would love to hear your and Laurie's thoughts on "motor control and timing." I hear PTs mention this often but never really have understood your theories as to why this occurs. If this and muscle inhibition is brought about by pain, then where and why is there pain? Is this a joint issue, a muscle issue or a combination of both? How might this effect the core body strength in dogs?
Fascinating discussion!!
Rick
Re: Does the Dog NEED core stability?
Hey Rick,
I'll do my best to answer your questions. Sue had sent this to me as an e-mail question and I used it here and on my blog. She did give me permission to use her name... but I don't think she's actually on the forum to debate or discuss your comments directly. I agree with you that the question really made me think as well... which is why I put it out there. Okay, so let me dive in:
1) Agreed that power comes from the pelvic limbs. And I do think there is research that looks at this - greyhound studies. I like the book Dogs in Motion, by Fischer and Lilje, published by VDH as a good reference. And on a really quick check of pubmed found a paper that correlates with our assumption of such: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18657259
2) Your comments here are good fodder for discussion. Does size alone to tell us of use? of force? of power? of stability? Big long muscles create powerful contractions (i.e. quads & hamstrings)... they have the length-tension ration and biomechanical advantages to do so. So, where do the abdominals fit? They are long, and they certainly can generate power. If we look at 'core stability', we are talking about stabilizing, not power. So, an EMG study of abdominal use during different canine sporting activities would be useful. Are they 'on' at a low grade during all tasks, or do they function more as power muscles? As well as EMG of various muscle use during our different exercise techniques would be very useful to see.
3) When you discuss Galloping and Running. These are POWER activities - the ability of the muscle to contract with strength and velocity. This isn't core stability. This is power. Undeniable, dogs need strong muscles, but when we are talking core stability we tend to look think of a tensing of the abdominals (and friends - epaxials, pelvic floor...) in order to stabilize the spine. Power and core stability are not the same thing. Does adding in a balancing exercise to your training enhance your strength or power in that muscle? (I just found a paper that says 'no'... I'll be using it as part of my blog for next week! STay tuned!)
4) Motor control & timing. Ohhhh, a topic I love! There has been a great deal of research on motor control and timing come from the University of Queensland in Australia and the work of Paul Hodges and his team. Essentially, before you go to do a movement your body should have a 'feedforward mechanism' that pre-activates key muscles, creating tension in their systems in preparation for use. (i.e. Before you go to swing your arms, your abdominals tense and your pelvic floor tenses even before your deltoid muscle registers to contract. Before you accept weight onto your outstretched leg, your glutes and quads - and abdominals and pelvic floor - contract.) We see in people with back pain, and women with urinary incontinence that this 'feedforward' system is messed up. As well sometimes the wrong muscles contract first or too strong (i.e. in incontinent women, they have too strong of a contraction of their oblique muscles which comes on prior to contraction of their pelvic floor and transverse abdominus.) The latter research comes from a Ruth Sapsford, another Aussie PT, who did her PhD at the age of 70!!! There is a goal for me to yet attain!!! Anyhoo... motor control might be MORE IMPORTANT than overall strength. Strong athletes can be lacking in motor control... which may be the result of OR the cause of injuries. The Hodges et al group did a research project where they evaluated a group of 19 year old men with no back pain. They found that in a certain subset of them, they had motor control & timing deficits of their abdominal muscles. When followed up and retested 6 months later, that subset of subjects had all developed back pain. Hmmm.... So we don't always know WHAT caused the motor control and timing issue. But we do know that it is important for normal functioning and protective against dysfunction and pain (as in the paper described).
So, Motor Control is bigger than just a pain inhibition, it is more likely a neural dysfunction of some type.
My additional questions, would be whether dogs automatically have better / stronger / more engaged core muscles than humans, simple because they are quadrupeds and have a 4 point base of support?
Phew... lots to think about! Thanks for engaging in the discussion Rick!
Cheers,
Laurie
I'll do my best to answer your questions. Sue had sent this to me as an e-mail question and I used it here and on my blog. She did give me permission to use her name... but I don't think she's actually on the forum to debate or discuss your comments directly. I agree with you that the question really made me think as well... which is why I put it out there. Okay, so let me dive in:
1) Agreed that power comes from the pelvic limbs. And I do think there is research that looks at this - greyhound studies. I like the book Dogs in Motion, by Fischer and Lilje, published by VDH as a good reference. And on a really quick check of pubmed found a paper that correlates with our assumption of such: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18657259
2) Your comments here are good fodder for discussion. Does size alone to tell us of use? of force? of power? of stability? Big long muscles create powerful contractions (i.e. quads & hamstrings)... they have the length-tension ration and biomechanical advantages to do so. So, where do the abdominals fit? They are long, and they certainly can generate power. If we look at 'core stability', we are talking about stabilizing, not power. So, an EMG study of abdominal use during different canine sporting activities would be useful. Are they 'on' at a low grade during all tasks, or do they function more as power muscles? As well as EMG of various muscle use during our different exercise techniques would be very useful to see.
3) When you discuss Galloping and Running. These are POWER activities - the ability of the muscle to contract with strength and velocity. This isn't core stability. This is power. Undeniable, dogs need strong muscles, but when we are talking core stability we tend to look think of a tensing of the abdominals (and friends - epaxials, pelvic floor...) in order to stabilize the spine. Power and core stability are not the same thing. Does adding in a balancing exercise to your training enhance your strength or power in that muscle? (I just found a paper that says 'no'... I'll be using it as part of my blog for next week! STay tuned!)
4) Motor control & timing. Ohhhh, a topic I love! There has been a great deal of research on motor control and timing come from the University of Queensland in Australia and the work of Paul Hodges and his team. Essentially, before you go to do a movement your body should have a 'feedforward mechanism' that pre-activates key muscles, creating tension in their systems in preparation for use. (i.e. Before you go to swing your arms, your abdominals tense and your pelvic floor tenses even before your deltoid muscle registers to contract. Before you accept weight onto your outstretched leg, your glutes and quads - and abdominals and pelvic floor - contract.) We see in people with back pain, and women with urinary incontinence that this 'feedforward' system is messed up. As well sometimes the wrong muscles contract first or too strong (i.e. in incontinent women, they have too strong of a contraction of their oblique muscles which comes on prior to contraction of their pelvic floor and transverse abdominus.) The latter research comes from a Ruth Sapsford, another Aussie PT, who did her PhD at the age of 70!!! There is a goal for me to yet attain!!! Anyhoo... motor control might be MORE IMPORTANT than overall strength. Strong athletes can be lacking in motor control... which may be the result of OR the cause of injuries. The Hodges et al group did a research project where they evaluated a group of 19 year old men with no back pain. They found that in a certain subset of them, they had motor control & timing deficits of their abdominal muscles. When followed up and retested 6 months later, that subset of subjects had all developed back pain. Hmmm.... So we don't always know WHAT caused the motor control and timing issue. But we do know that it is important for normal functioning and protective against dysfunction and pain (as in the paper described).
So, Motor Control is bigger than just a pain inhibition, it is more likely a neural dysfunction of some type.
My additional questions, would be whether dogs automatically have better / stronger / more engaged core muscles than humans, simple because they are quadrupeds and have a 4 point base of support?
Phew... lots to think about! Thanks for engaging in the discussion Rick!
Cheers,
Laurie
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES
Re: Does the Dog NEED core stability?
Laurie,
Thank you for your lengthy reply. Within the myofascial pain and dysfunction community and literature "motor control and timing" is termed somewhat differently. Terms such as "muscle activation patterns", "muscle recruitment patterns" and "loss or decrease in reciprocal muscle inhibition". Several studies have shown that latent myofascial trigger points (MTP) can be the cause of this muscle dysfunction.
J Pain. 2011 Dec;12(12):1282-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2011.09.005. Epub 2011 Nov 11.
Latent myofascial trigger points are associated with an increased antagonistic muscle activity during agonist muscle contraction.
--------------------------
Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2010 Oct;25(8):765-70. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2010.05.006. Epub 2010 Jul 27.
Muscle activation patterns in the scapular positioning muscles during loaded scapular plane elevation: the effects of Latent Myofascial Trigger Points.
-------------------
J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2016 Jan;20(1):26-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2015.02.004. Epub 2015 Mar 25.
Differential activation of scapular muscles, during arm elevation, with and without trigger points.
Rick
Thank you for your lengthy reply. Within the myofascial pain and dysfunction community and literature "motor control and timing" is termed somewhat differently. Terms such as "muscle activation patterns", "muscle recruitment patterns" and "loss or decrease in reciprocal muscle inhibition". Several studies have shown that latent myofascial trigger points (MTP) can be the cause of this muscle dysfunction.
J Pain. 2011 Dec;12(12):1282-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2011.09.005. Epub 2011 Nov 11.
Latent myofascial trigger points are associated with an increased antagonistic muscle activity during agonist muscle contraction.
--------------------------
Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2010 Oct;25(8):765-70. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2010.05.006. Epub 2010 Jul 27.
Muscle activation patterns in the scapular positioning muscles during loaded scapular plane elevation: the effects of Latent Myofascial Trigger Points.
-------------------
J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2016 Jan;20(1):26-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2015.02.004. Epub 2015 Mar 25.
Differential activation of scapular muscles, during arm elevation, with and without trigger points.
Rick
Re: Does the Dog NEED core stability?
These are awesome articles Rick! Thanks for sharing!
What it makes me want to highlight is that there is no one right answer for everything! And as such, a very good reason to look at multiple systems when evaluating and treating a patient. In all of my continuing education, and even getting to learn from Dr. Paul Hodges (the motor control research guru) I have never heard presented the latent MFTrP theory and findings as it related to motor control & timing or abnormal muscle activation. So this is VERY exciting and interesting to me... as another place to look and explore in the patients I see with motor control & timing issues.
I love coming across new ways of looking at things and new avenue to explore in treatment. It also highlights how we can't become too tunnel vision in our approach. Oh, and how the definitions we use should not necessarily be tied to a specific pathology (i.e. from the articles you present, the motor control & timing / correct patterns of muscle engagement mesh quite well with what I presented as a definition / description. The difference comes from the presumed or assessed underlying pathology. And most likely, there can be multiple pathologies that result in a certain finding. (i.e. dogs with acute cruciate tears often limp, but not all rear leg lamenesses are cruciate tears...)
Thanks for the discussion and interesting literature!
Cheers,
Laurie
What it makes me want to highlight is that there is no one right answer for everything! And as such, a very good reason to look at multiple systems when evaluating and treating a patient. In all of my continuing education, and even getting to learn from Dr. Paul Hodges (the motor control research guru) I have never heard presented the latent MFTrP theory and findings as it related to motor control & timing or abnormal muscle activation. So this is VERY exciting and interesting to me... as another place to look and explore in the patients I see with motor control & timing issues.
I love coming across new ways of looking at things and new avenue to explore in treatment. It also highlights how we can't become too tunnel vision in our approach. Oh, and how the definitions we use should not necessarily be tied to a specific pathology (i.e. from the articles you present, the motor control & timing / correct patterns of muscle engagement mesh quite well with what I presented as a definition / description. The difference comes from the presumed or assessed underlying pathology. And most likely, there can be multiple pathologies that result in a certain finding. (i.e. dogs with acute cruciate tears often limp, but not all rear leg lamenesses are cruciate tears...)
Thanks for the discussion and interesting literature!
Cheers,
Laurie
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES