The role of muscle activation in cruciate disease

Abstract

Traditional investigations into the etiopathogenesis of canine cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease have focused primarily on the biological and mechanical insults to the CCL as a passive stabilizing structure of the stifle. However, with recent collaboration between veterinarians and physical therapists, an increased focus on the role of muscle activity and aberrant motor control mechanisms associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and rehabilitation in people has been transferred and applied to dogs with CCL disease. Motor control mechanisms in both intact and cruciate-deficient human knees may have direct translation to canine patients, because the sensory and motor components are similar, despite moderate anatomic and biomechanical differences. Components of motor control, such as muscle recruitment and the coordination and amplitudes of activation are strongly influenced by afferent proprioceptive signaling from peri- and intra-articular structures, including the cruciate ligaments. In people, alterations in the timing or amplitude of muscle contractions contribute to uncoordinated movement, which can play a critical role in ACL injury, joint instability and the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). A better understanding of motor control mechanisms as they relate to canine CCL disease is vitally important in identifying modifiable risk factors and applying preventative measures, for development of improved surgical and rehabilitative treatment strategies. The purpose of this review article is to analyze the influence of altered motor control, specifically pelvic limb muscle activation, in dogs with CCL disease as evidenced by mechanisms of ACL injury and rehabilitation in people.

Tibial Femoral Tunnel for Isokinetic Graft Placement Based on a Tensegrity Model of a Knee

“…We should choose surgical procedures that not only reconstruct the anatomy but also restore the articular kinesthesis, that is, the pickup of own movement [18][19][20][21]. In such an application, avoiding roof impingement during reconstruction of a torn ACL might find benefit in choosing a tunnel placement that can come near to a tensegrity model of a knee.…”

Gait and electromyographic alterations due to early onset of injury and eventual rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs: A pilot study

“…In an intact stifle, strain on CCL is generated through quadriceps contraction at 135° degrees or greater of stifle flexion . Muscle forces primarily determine joint loading and, altered muscle recruitment strategies may increase the susceptibility of the contralateral stifle to mechanical injury and failure . Despite no significant change within the GRFz in the contralateral pelvic limb, the qualitative early activation and increased duration of the vastus lateralis in the untreated limb, in conjunction with altered limb kinematics, could reflect increased forces and load distribution within the stifle joint, which could contribute to the development of CCLR.…”

Comparison of goniometric measurements of the stifle joint in seven breeds of normal dogs

“…In normal dogs, body weight and all muscular circumferences and widths showed moderate and good positive relationships with the stifle flexion angle. This might be because more muscle activation is needed to stabilize the flexion position of the stifle joint (27). It was not possible however to determine the direct or indirect influences of body weight on the stifle flexion angle, since more muscular mass means greater body weight.…”

“…First, the goniometric measurements of the contralateral stifle joint are mostly used as a reference value, because of the assumption that the stifle joints are symmetrical. This assumption, however, may not be valid in cases of bilateral disease, dominant hindlimbs, greater mobilization of the contralateral limb for compensation, and other abnormalities of the contralateral side (11,(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28). Second, the breed factor is either neglected in the assessment of the goniometric measurements of stifle joints or used as a comparison factor between different breeds (4-5, 9-11, 13, 15, 29-30).…”