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- Brantberg, Ida, et al.
(författare)
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The Effect of Therapeutic Exercise on Body Weight Distribution, Balance, and Stifle Function in Dogs following Stifle Injury
- 2023
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI. - 2076-2615. ; 14:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stifle injury is common in the companion dog population, affecting weight bearing, neuromuscular control, and balance. Therapeutic exercises after stifle injury seem to be effective, but high-quality research evaluating the effects is lacking. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a 12-week progressive therapeutic home exercise protocol on three-legged standing, targeting balance and postural- and neuromuscular control and disability in dogs with stifle injury. Thirty-three dogs with stifle injury were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 18) and control groups (n = 15), both receiving a standard rehabilitation protocol. Additionally, the intervention group received a progressive therapeutic exercise protocol. The outcome measures were static body weight distribution between hindlimbs, balance control, the canine brief pain inventory, and the Finnish canine stifle index. Both groups improved after the intervention period, but the group using the progressive therapeutic exercise protocol improved to a greater extent regarding static body weight distribution between the hindlimbs (I: median = 2.5%, IQR = 1.0–4.5; C: median = 5.5%, IQR = 3.0–8.8), pain-related functional disability (I: median = 0.0, IQR = 0.0–0.2; C: median = 0.9, IQR = 0.1–1.8), and stifle function (I: median = 25.0, IQR = 9.4–40.6; C: median = 75.0, IQR = 31.3–87.5), with intermediate to strong effects. These clinically relevant results indicate that this home exercise program can improve hindlimb function and restore neuromuscular control.
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| 2. |
- Essner, Ann, Medicine Doktor, PhD, 1971-, et al.
(författare)
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Injuries and Associated Factors in Swedish Sporting and Utility Trial Dogs-A Cross-Sectional Study
- 2024
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI. - 2076-2615. ; 14:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Simple Summary Canine sporting competitions, e.g., agility, obedience, rally obedience, and utility trials, e.g., protection, tracking, search, and messenger, are physically and mentally demanding disciplines. There is a growing concern within the dog sports community that some disciplines and breeds may be at higher injury risk. This study aimed to describe the frequencies and types of injuries experienced amongst Swedish sporting and utility trial dogs and to explore associations between discipline, breed, sex, neuter status, age, and injury history. Through a questionnaire survey, information about 1582 dogs was collected. During their lifetime, more than half of the dogs (n = 928, 58.7%) had suffered from an injury whether it appeared during training, competition, or outside of sport. Key findings were that muscular, joint, and dermatologic injuries were most commonly reported and the most common injury locations were the thoracic, lumbar and lumbosacral spine, paw, head, shoulder, and stifle. In a multivariate analysis, Border Collies, Belgian Malinois, and higher age at the time of report increased the odds of injury history. Our results provide more understanding of injuries in sporting and utility dogs and contribute to injury prevention strategies that potentially enhance canine welfare.Abstract Canine sporting competitions, e.g., agility, obedience, rally obedience, and utility trials, e.g., protection, tracking, search, and messenger, are physically and mentally demanding disciplines. This study aimed to describe the types and frequencies of injuries experienced amongst Swedish sporting and utility trial dogs and to explore associations between discipline, breed, sex, neuter status, age, and injury history. Dog handlers provided information on competition-level dogs (n = 1582) through a cross-sectional survey. The overall proportion of dogs sustaining any injury during their lifetime, whether it was during competition, training, or outside of sport, was 58.7% (n = 928). Muscular, joint, and dermatologic injuries were most commonly reported and the most common injury locations were the thoracic, lumbar and lumbosacral spine, paw, head, shoulder, and stifle. According to multivariate analysis, Border Collie (adjusted OR 1.93), Belgian Malinois (adjusted OR 2.51) and higher age at the time of report (adjusted OR 1.81-9.67) increased the odds of injury history. Our results provide more understanding of injuries in sporting and utility dogs and contribute to injury prevention strategies that potentially enhance canine welfare.
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| 3. |
- Essner, Ann, 1971-
(författare)
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On assessment methods related to pain in dogs with osteoarthritis
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- There is a need of valid and reliable assessment methods that are clinically applicable in canine rehabilitation practice. The aim of this thesis was to psychometrically evaluate measurement properties in assessment methods related to pain in naturally occurring canine osteoarthritis. Assessment methods developed for heart rate variability analysis, i.e. Polar heart rate monitor, and owner-reported perceptions of pain severity and pain interference with functionality, i.e. Canine Brief Pain Inventory, were tested.Methods: Four observational studies were conducted. Study I was a cross-sectional study consisting of two groups of consecutively recruited dogs. The Canine Brief Pain Inventory was administered to owners of dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis (n=61) and clinically sound dogs (n=21). Study II was a descriptive and correlative cross-sectional study based on the same sample of dogs with osteoarthritis (n=71), assessing chronic pain behavior and associations between explanatory variables and chronic pain behavior. Study III and IV were correlative studies, assessing Polar heart rate monitor measuring interbeat intervals and time- and frequency-based heart rate variability parameters, compared to simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram in dogs (n=11).Results: High internal consistencies and ability to discriminate sound dogs from osteoarthritis dogs were found. The hypothesis of the presented two-factor structure of the Canine Brief Pain Inventory was rejected. Owners reported higher proportions of chronic pain behavior in items targeting physical activities, e.g. getting up, moving after rest and moving after major exercise. A minor proportion of dogs with osteoarthritis showed no owner-perceived behavioural signs of chronic pain. Owner observations were not associated with ongoing antiinflammatory medications. In Study III and IV, 595 errors (12.3%) were identified in Polar data. The number of errors were unequally distributed among the dogs. Interbeat intervals and heart rate variability parameters from electrocardiogram and Polar were strongly associated. Standard error of measurements were high among some heart rate variability parameters in Polar and electrocardiogram.In conclusion, this thesis contributes to our knowledge about assessment methods related to diverse components of pain in dogs with osteoarthritis, allowing improved pain management in clinical practice.
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