Patterns and risk factors for injuries and shoulder muscular activation in dogs performing agility tasks.
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Abstract
Canine agility competition, one of the fastest growing canine sports worldwide, is a performance sport in which dogs and their handlers work as a team to navigate a sequence of obstacles. Dogs perform tasks that include jumping, weaving, making tight turns in tunnels, climbing ramps and seesaws, and moving on and off of, or across elevated surfaces while being timed for speed and scored for faults. A retrospective electronic survey was used to understand the pattern of injuries (chapter 2) and to investigate potential risk factors for injury (chapter 3) among dogs participating in agility competitions. Results from these studies were used to focus a biomechanical investigation quantifying the muscular activation of four shoulder muscles (Biceps Brachii, Triceps Brachii – Long Head, Supraspinatus, and Infraspinatus) during specific agility-related tasks identified as being associated with a high risk of injury in the sport (chapter 5). To facilitate this investigation, we present specific guidelines regarding the placement of fine-wire electromyography electrodes and data collection/normalization procedures to enable investigations of muscle activation during dynamic activities (chapter 4).