title: Compensatory load redistribution in naturally occurring osteoarthritis of the elbow joint and induced weight-bearing lameness of the forelimbs compared with clinically sound dogs.
abstract: The current study investigated the compensatory load redistribution due to osteoarthritis of the elbow joint using ground reaction forces of all four legs, simultaneously measured on a treadmill with integrated force plates. Three groups of dogs were used: the first group was clinically sound; the second group suffered from a naturally occurring osteoarthritis of the elbow joint, and a reversible lameness was induced in the third group. The naturally occurring osteoarthritis resulted in a compensatory gait pattern to reduce the stress on the affected limb. The load was reduced on the lame limb and increased on the contralateral hindlimb. The symmetry index indicated a weight-shift to the contralateral forelimb and diagonal hindlimb, which resulted in a more balanced weight distribution than in normal dogs. Dogs with induced lameness showed comparable but less pronounced alterations. These results suggested that forelimb lameness could lead to overload on non-affected extremities and the vertebral spine.
authors.affiliation: Movement Science Group Vienna (Project Group Dog), Clinical Department of Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, A-1210 Vienna, Austria. Barbara.bockstahler@vu-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bockstahler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vobornik
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000503:physiopathology; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*