Effects of unilaterally restricted carpal range of motion on kinematic gait analysis of the dog

Abstract

SummaryDecreased carpal range of motion is a common sequel to both disease and injury of the canine carpus; it is also encountered following therapeutic endeavours such as taping, bandaging, and arthrodesis. It was the aim of this study to define alterations of movement in dogs with artificially restricted carpal range of motion (ROM) by use of non-invasive, two-dimensional, computer-assisted kinematic gait analysis. Carpal taping was performed using strips of five centimetre adhesive porous bandage tape placed in circumferential, overlapping strips from mid-radius to just proximal to the metacarpal pad. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in angular displacement were observed, not only in the motion-restricted carpus, but also in the ipsilateral shoulder and contralateral stifle, demonstrating the need for monitoring of other joints when carpal ROM is restricted unilaterally either due to pathology, coaptation or arthrodesis.