Effect of fence height on joint angles of agility dogs
- 1 December 2013
- journal article
- Published by Elsevier BV in The Veterinary Journal
- Vol. 198, e99-e102
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.041
Abstract
The Kennel Club (KC) and United Kingdom Agility (UKA) govern major dog agility competitions in the UK. Dogs are categorised into different jump heights depending on their height at the withers, with fence heights ranging from 300 to 650 mm for both organisations. Dogs fall into one of three height categories when competing under KC rules and one of four height categories under UKA rules. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of an additional height category for agility dogs measuring over 430 mm at the withers. Jump heights were selected that related to the percentage of body height that dogs of 430 mm (7% lower) and 431 mm (51% higher) height at the withers would be encouraged to jump under UKA regulations without the addition of their fourth ('standard height') category. Joint angles were determined from anatomical markers placed on the forelimb and hind limb joints, and at six points along the vertebral column. As fence height increased, flexion of the scapulohumeral joint increased significantly for both the take-off and bascule (arc) phases of the jump. The increase in flexion as a consequence of the increase in fence height is likely to result in intensified stretching of the biceps brachii and supraspinatus muscles. In addition, increasing fence high resulted in an increase in the sacroiliac joint angle during take-off.Keywords
This publication has 8 references indexed in Scilit:
- Kinetics of jump landing in agility dogsThe Veterinary Journal, 2011
- Kinematics of gait in Golden Retriever Muscular DystrophyNeuromuscular Disorders, 2010
- A preliminary retrospective survey of injuries occurring in dogs participating in canine agilityVeterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2009
- The Canine StifleClinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice, 2007
- Kinematic Study of Back Movement in Clinically Sound Malinois Dogs with Consideration of the Effect of Radiographic Changes in the Lumbosacral JunctionVeterinary Surgery, 2007
- Three‐dimensional analysis of patterns of skin displacement over the equine radiusEquine Veterinary Journal, 2004
- Pain associated with the sacroiliac joint region: a clinical study of 74 horsesEquine Veterinary Journal, 2003
- Bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis of sacroiliac injury in twelve horsesEquine Veterinary Journal, 1998