Clean Run Magazine - June 2009 - 32

Varyi ng scle con mu t A Big Word You Really Do Need to Know About By Dr. Debbie Gross Saunders, photos by Clean Run except where noted Adju sti c ng enter o f y avit gr Ch a e in move ng Proprioception is a big word. Although the word may seem scary to some, it is an important process each body, both human and canine, goes through on a daily basis. The definition of the word is: the sense of the relative position of neighboring parts of the body. Proprioception is one of the senses; just like sight, smell, hearing, vision, and touch. It is the sense that indicates whether the body is moving appropriately and if the various body parts are moving as they should relative to one another. Proprioception allows humans and dogs to quickly adjust their center of gravity or vary a muscle contraction as an immediate response to an external force or change in movement. For example, each of you has most likely experienced misjudging a step and catching yourself before you fall. That catch was your proprioceptive sense kicking in to prevent you from falling. Slipping on ice and immediately correcting yourself is also a part of your proprioceptive sense. especially in canine performance sports such as agility. Proprioception is the basic skill needed in every movement performed on the course. Changing leads, adjusting stride, digging in to turn, moving from the ground to a plank in the air, and balancing on the teeter all require proprioception. How often have you sent your dog over a jump and then realized you need to change his direction? You quickly do so with a verbal or visual cue, and the dog’s body immediately adjusts to your command. This is also an example of proprioception. Proprioception allows the dogs’ joints and muscles to move smoothly and confidently. Kinesthetic awareness (or kinesthesia) is another term used synonymously with proprioception. Both proprioception and kinesthesia, the sensation of joint motion and acceleration, control the sensory pathways for motor or motion control and posture. These two systems help to keep the body oriented and balanced. It is an unconscious control because the body does not have to think about it, and it provides a constant influx of sensory information. An experienced agility dog does not actively think about changing directions on your command; his body just does it. And the dog’s body does it because his brain sends out immediate and unconscious adjustments to the muscles and joints to achieve the necessary movement, change in direction, and change in balance. One reason an inexperienced dog learning a skill often performs slowly is that the dog still has to pay attention to exactly what the different parts of his body are doing. His speed will increase as he becomes more confident and comfortable, and does not actively have to think about managing his body. 32 Dogs use their proprioceptive sense all the time, but Factors that May Negatively Affect Proprioception Performance events such as agility, herding, obedience, flyball, and others require a keen sense of proprioception. Balance and proprioception can be learned, challenged, and improved through various activities, but it is important to realize that there are factors that may negatively affect your dogs’ proprioception: Ear infections can alter the dog’s equilibrium and cause balance problems. • If altered, the fluid-filled vestibular system of the inner ear can affect balance and proprioception. • Large increases or decreases in body weight and fat or changes in body composition affect the dog’s center of gravity. • Weakness in the dog’s core muscles can affect the dog’s proprioception. • Increases or decreases in range of motion affect proprioception. If a dog does not have an adequate range of motion to make postural adjustments, he is negatively affected. On the contrary, if a dog has too much range of motion in one area, such as a slipped hock, this will negatively affect his proprioception. • Osteoarthritis affects the joints negatively and will reduce the dog’s ability to respond to situations and changes in body position. • If there is damage to a ligament, such as a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture or deficiency, proprioception is negatively affected because ligaments provide much of the feedback needed for proprioception. Clean Run | June 09 © www.mAttAllisonphotogrAphy.Com c ra tion m en t

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Clean Run Magazine - June 2009

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