Common injuries affecting galloping action
Oct 22, 2009 5:32:11 GMT 10
Post by Tom Meulman on Oct 22, 2009 5:32:11 GMT 10
If you stood the front legs of a greyhound on one set of scales, and the hind legs on another set of scales. You would find that the front set of scales weigh two thirds of the greyhound’s weight, and the scales weighing the hind quarters one third of the greyhounds weight.
The simple fact that two thirds of the greyhound’s body weight is carried on the front legs has a major bearing on why a specific injury affects just how the greyhound runs.
To change direction during running you need to pivot your weight, and you can only pivot your weight when the leg that carries the major portion of your weight is on the ground.
Therefore a greyhound can only change direction comfortably when a front leg is on the ground during its stride.
Being aware of this fact, and understanding the galloping sequence of the greyhounds legs will provide a far better picture and understanding just where to look for an injury, in response to how a greyhound negotiates a racetrack.
The other thing of course to keep in mind is that some muscles are FLEXORS and some EXTENSORS and of course some muscles are ADDUCTORS and hold the limb stable (in line) while the other muscles FLEX or EXTEND the limb.
The greyhound runs wide going into the first turn
To negotiate going into the first turn the greyhound needs to pivot its weight on both the left and right front legs. Thoroughly check for forearm, wrist or foot injuries.
The greyhound runs into the turn OK but then drifts off or slows a fraction
The greyhound has to drive on the turn on the right hind leg. Thoroughly check for hock damage. Slowing on the home turn of a two-turn track is a typical symptom of right hock ligament damage.
The greyhound negotiates the turn OK but runs wide coming out of the turn
To straighten up coming out of the turn the greyhound needs to start placing driving pressure on the left hind leg. This can be a particular problem associated with coming out of the home turn on a two-turn track.
Keeping in mind that the greyhound by this time is having to place driving pressure on the left hind leg for the third time during its race, and could be feeling the pain of a deep seated low level muscle or bone injury by this time.
More on trackleg problems
The various injuries associated with the greyhound striking the inside of the left back leg with the left elbow can be difficult to diagnose. Simply because most of the time there is no single injury causing the problem, and often or not by the time it is noticed that the greyhound is “tracking,” the muscle changes that have occurred and are causing the problem can be difficult to rectify.
The main point to keep in mind when trying to determine the cause of a “tracking” problem is that it would not be occurring if the muscles that adduct either the front or hind leg were able to do their job, or if the greyhound could keep the leg in the correct position while running without it causing pain.
A young greyhound suffering railside Metacarpal bone damage will twist the foot sideways when it hits the ground in an attempt to reduce the pain. This action will twist the elbow outward and cause tracking problems. An older greyhound with chronic Sesamoid damage will do the same thing.
If the centre section of the Triceps on the left shoulder cramps at the point in time when the greyhound places the leg on the ground, the muscles that pull the leg forward can’t do so without re-stretching the cramped muscle, and in doing so will flick the elbow outward, again causing “tracking”.
A similar problem often occurs on the left hind leg, only in this situation it is the Tensor Facia Lata that tightens and causes the knee to pull inward when the main driving muscles of the leg pull it backwards.
This problem is quite visible when a greyhound is watched from behind while running up a straight.
The Gluteal muscles are involved with adducting the hind leg during the stride and any damage in this muscle will also pull the hind leg inward causing trackleg problems.
If the greyhound can’t place the appropriate pressure on the right front leg while running around a bend this will cause it to place the left front leg on the ground earlier during the stride, and again cause trackleg problems.
If the muscles of any part of the base of the neck or the Thoracic section of the spine are damaged or cramp during any part of the stride, this will also aggravate any existing “tracking” problems. A similar effect will be caused by damage to the muscles of the lower section of the spine.
As you can see, the problems associated with the common phenomena of “trackleg” are many and varied, and unfortunately can be caused by a combination of any of those injuries mentioned.
Common injuries often missed that can severely affect performance
When you compare a greyhound that is “City class” to a greyhound that has problems winning a race on a country track, the difference is often only 8 lengths over 500 metres, or less than half a second.
Not a huge difference when it is possible for an undiagnosed and chronic injury to slow the dog as much as 10 or 12 lengths. Particularly when that injury causes problems in negotiating the turns.
One of the most common injuries often missed during a routine examination by the trainer for injury problems are chronically damaged or weak Accessory Carpal ligaments to the left wrist.
The main contributing factor to a large number of greyhounds having weak or damaged left wrist Accessory Carpal ligaments is the rearing methods employed at most commercial rearing establishments. Unfortunately there is little choice in a commercial rearing venture but to fit as many greyhounds as possible on the property, and that means long narrow rearing yards.
Any greyhound reared in this manner has a real possibility of having sustained some damage to the left wrist due to running at speed to the ends of the yard and then turning quickly to run back again. The breaking in procedure then aggravates the problem by the greyhound grabbing and pulling back on the lure while being pulled around the track.
Greyhounds with this problem are often discarded as simply being to slow.
The other two injuries often missed are micro fractures in the Radius bone of the right front leg, either at the top of the bone in an area called the Tuberosity of the Radius or in an area about half way along the bone. Both the rearing methods employed and the breaking in procedure may also cause these problems, and this also causes the greyhound to slow perceptibly when negotiating the turns of the racetrack.
The final injury that is associated with both the current rearing and training methods employed, is a chronic weakness in the supporting muscles and ligaments of the junction between the Humerus and the Scapula of the right front leg. If left untreated, this will result in Cartilage damage to the joint structure, and possible misdiagnosis of OCD disease.
Tom
The simple fact that two thirds of the greyhound’s body weight is carried on the front legs has a major bearing on why a specific injury affects just how the greyhound runs.
To change direction during running you need to pivot your weight, and you can only pivot your weight when the leg that carries the major portion of your weight is on the ground.
Therefore a greyhound can only change direction comfortably when a front leg is on the ground during its stride.
Being aware of this fact, and understanding the galloping sequence of the greyhounds legs will provide a far better picture and understanding just where to look for an injury, in response to how a greyhound negotiates a racetrack.
The other thing of course to keep in mind is that some muscles are FLEXORS and some EXTENSORS and of course some muscles are ADDUCTORS and hold the limb stable (in line) while the other muscles FLEX or EXTEND the limb.
The greyhound runs wide going into the first turn
To negotiate going into the first turn the greyhound needs to pivot its weight on both the left and right front legs. Thoroughly check for forearm, wrist or foot injuries.
The greyhound runs into the turn OK but then drifts off or slows a fraction
The greyhound has to drive on the turn on the right hind leg. Thoroughly check for hock damage. Slowing on the home turn of a two-turn track is a typical symptom of right hock ligament damage.
The greyhound negotiates the turn OK but runs wide coming out of the turn
To straighten up coming out of the turn the greyhound needs to start placing driving pressure on the left hind leg. This can be a particular problem associated with coming out of the home turn on a two-turn track.
Keeping in mind that the greyhound by this time is having to place driving pressure on the left hind leg for the third time during its race, and could be feeling the pain of a deep seated low level muscle or bone injury by this time.
More on trackleg problems
The various injuries associated with the greyhound striking the inside of the left back leg with the left elbow can be difficult to diagnose. Simply because most of the time there is no single injury causing the problem, and often or not by the time it is noticed that the greyhound is “tracking,” the muscle changes that have occurred and are causing the problem can be difficult to rectify.
The main point to keep in mind when trying to determine the cause of a “tracking” problem is that it would not be occurring if the muscles that adduct either the front or hind leg were able to do their job, or if the greyhound could keep the leg in the correct position while running without it causing pain.
A young greyhound suffering railside Metacarpal bone damage will twist the foot sideways when it hits the ground in an attempt to reduce the pain. This action will twist the elbow outward and cause tracking problems. An older greyhound with chronic Sesamoid damage will do the same thing.
If the centre section of the Triceps on the left shoulder cramps at the point in time when the greyhound places the leg on the ground, the muscles that pull the leg forward can’t do so without re-stretching the cramped muscle, and in doing so will flick the elbow outward, again causing “tracking”.
A similar problem often occurs on the left hind leg, only in this situation it is the Tensor Facia Lata that tightens and causes the knee to pull inward when the main driving muscles of the leg pull it backwards.
This problem is quite visible when a greyhound is watched from behind while running up a straight.
The Gluteal muscles are involved with adducting the hind leg during the stride and any damage in this muscle will also pull the hind leg inward causing trackleg problems.
If the greyhound can’t place the appropriate pressure on the right front leg while running around a bend this will cause it to place the left front leg on the ground earlier during the stride, and again cause trackleg problems.
If the muscles of any part of the base of the neck or the Thoracic section of the spine are damaged or cramp during any part of the stride, this will also aggravate any existing “tracking” problems. A similar effect will be caused by damage to the muscles of the lower section of the spine.
As you can see, the problems associated with the common phenomena of “trackleg” are many and varied, and unfortunately can be caused by a combination of any of those injuries mentioned.
Common injuries often missed that can severely affect performance
When you compare a greyhound that is “City class” to a greyhound that has problems winning a race on a country track, the difference is often only 8 lengths over 500 metres, or less than half a second.
Not a huge difference when it is possible for an undiagnosed and chronic injury to slow the dog as much as 10 or 12 lengths. Particularly when that injury causes problems in negotiating the turns.
One of the most common injuries often missed during a routine examination by the trainer for injury problems are chronically damaged or weak Accessory Carpal ligaments to the left wrist.
The main contributing factor to a large number of greyhounds having weak or damaged left wrist Accessory Carpal ligaments is the rearing methods employed at most commercial rearing establishments. Unfortunately there is little choice in a commercial rearing venture but to fit as many greyhounds as possible on the property, and that means long narrow rearing yards.
Any greyhound reared in this manner has a real possibility of having sustained some damage to the left wrist due to running at speed to the ends of the yard and then turning quickly to run back again. The breaking in procedure then aggravates the problem by the greyhound grabbing and pulling back on the lure while being pulled around the track.
Greyhounds with this problem are often discarded as simply being to slow.
The other two injuries often missed are micro fractures in the Radius bone of the right front leg, either at the top of the bone in an area called the Tuberosity of the Radius or in an area about half way along the bone. Both the rearing methods employed and the breaking in procedure may also cause these problems, and this also causes the greyhound to slow perceptibly when negotiating the turns of the racetrack.
The final injury that is associated with both the current rearing and training methods employed, is a chronic weakness in the supporting muscles and ligaments of the junction between the Humerus and the Scapula of the right front leg. If left untreated, this will result in Cartilage damage to the joint structure, and possible misdiagnosis of OCD disease.
Tom
