Benson C, Lakey S, Smith M, Hummel-Berry K; University of Puget Sound Physical Therapy Department, Tacoma WA, USA. hummel@ups.edu.

PURPOSE: To determine if normal joint range of motion values differ between dogs of disparate body types. SUBJECTS: A total of 34 adult purebred dogs; 17 basset hounds and 17 Irish wolfhounds. METHODS AND MATERIALS: One investigator measured sagittal range of motion at 6 peripheral joints among 17 basset hounds and 17 Irish wolfhounds. Dogs were placed in the lateral recumbent position and measurements were taken using a universal goniometer as described by Jaegger et al. The investigator was blinded to the degree markings on the instrument. Measures were then compared between the two groups. ANALYSES: A two-tailed t-test was used to determine if there were significant differences between breeds. Confidence intervals for all comparisons were set at 95%. Significant differences in range of motion were found in basset hounds versus Irish wolfhounds respectively as follows: shoulder flexion 72° vs. 55° (p = .000), shoulder extension 133° vs. 152° (p = .002), carpal extension 195° vs. 172° (p = .000), hip flexion 79° vs. 49° (p = .000), hip extension 139° vs. 122° (p = .001), stifle flexion 56° vs. 33° (p = .000), tarsal flexion 32° vs. 47° (p = .000), tarsal extension 140° vs. 159° (p = .000). There were no significant differences in elbow flexion 30° vs. 32° (p = .379), elbow extension 146° vs. 152° (p = .184), carpal flexion 36° vs. 37° (p = .639), stifle extension 153° vs. 147° (p = .094). RESULTS: Joint range of motion values differed in 8 of the 12 motions measured. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that normal values differ between dogs of disparate body types and that one universal table of norms may not be applicable to all canine breeds when evaluating desired intervention outcomes. FUNDING SOURCE: None.

This abstract has been submitted for presentation at APTA’s Combined Sections Meeting.

Copyright 2004 by the American Physical Therapy Association

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