Front Matter

556 Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

functioning properly, gathers sensory infor-
mation from both outside and inside the body
and processes this information to signal and
activate body systems in a coordinated man-
ner. The function of the nervous system can
be assessed through the response of the auto-
nomic nervous system (such as through heart
rate, pupillary light reflex, sweating, and
blood pressure) and somatic system (muscle
function).
Knowledge of the origin of cranial nerves can
assist the rehabilitation veterinarian in deter-
mining the approximate location of a suspected
brain lesion in a patient. Likewise, knowledge
of the innervation of skeletal muscles assists the
rehabilitation therapist in further localizing the
longitudinal level of a suspected spinal cord
lesion. This can be especially beneficial when
referring a patient for MRI.
Manipulative and rehabilitation therapists
must be familiar with the innervation of skele-
tal muscles and of cutaneous regions (dermato-
mal pattern), and from which spinal cord
segments the nerves emerge. Especially impor-
tant are the brachial and lumbar plexi, because
most of the muscles of the thoracic and pelvic
limbs are innervated from these associated
nerves (Lorenz et al., 2011).

Musculoskeletal biomechanics

The manipulative therapist should under-
stand how the bones, joints, and muscles move
in concert with one another and how the nerv-
ous system signals the muscles to contract.
The three dimensions of vertebral motion,
in  the X, Y, and Z axes (Figure  22.6) allow
for  coordinated motion in flexion/extension,
lateral bending, and axial rotation, respec-
tively (see Chapter  17), as well as with cou-
pled  motion—vertebral movement around one
axis (e.g., X axis) that is associated with move-
ment around a different axis (e.g., Y axis)
(Figure 22.7).
While each vertebra has the ability to move
in each of the axes, the structure and articulation
of the articular facets (Z joints) contribute to
increased motion in certain directions. The
angulation of the articular facets of the quadru-
ped cervical vertebrae is approximately 45
degrees caudal to cranial, dorsal to ventral, and
lateral to medial.

The angulation of the articular facets of the

quadruped thoracic vertebrae cranial to the

anticlinal vertebrae (T11 in the canine) is such

that the primary movement of the thoracic

spine cranial to the anticlinal vertebrae is lateral

flexion or side bending, with a small amount of

axial rotation.

Figure 22.7 Coupled motion in the spine. A dog does a

cookie reach to the rear toes, exhibiting flexion, lateral

bend, and rotation.

X axis

Y axis

Figure 22.6 Axis of motion. End on view of a lumbar

vertebra with schematic of x and y axes. The x-axis is

horizontal, the y-axis is perpendicular to the ground, and

the z-axis is planar (parallel to the vertebral bodies of the

lumbosacral spine).