Muscular System, Injury Classifications and Treatments
May 21, 2016 11:15:39 GMT 10
Post by Tom Meulman on May 21, 2016 11:15:39 GMT 10
The Muscular System
It is the skeletal muscle system that is the motor that moves the Greyhound around the track and as such is subject to injuries of overuse, breakdown of muscle cells as well as strains tears and ruptures.
To understand how or why a muscle breaks down, you need to have some knowledge of how muscle functions, as well as a basic understanding of the general muscle structure and an understanding of which muscles are most likely to be involved in racetrack injuries.
It should be noted that there are two other types of muscles in the body besides the skeletal muscle; they are heart muscle and the smooth muscles that are found in the stomach, intestines and the blood vessels. Both these types of muscle are involuntary muscles, and as such are not under the conscious control of the Greyhound.
Commonly used terms
In discussions on muscle structure you may hear the terms “the origin of a muscle” or the “insertion of a muscle” please remember that the term “the origin” refers to the uppermost attachment of the muscle, while the “insertion” refers to the lower most attachment of the muscle. While “medial” means inside and “lateral” means outside.
Skeletal muscles for the most part are connected to the bone structure by means of a tendon and only occasionally by direct fibre attachment to the bone.
When a muscle contracts and shortens in length it moves the bones it is connected to in a certain direction.
On one side of a limb there will be some muscles that will bend or FLEX the limb, and as such they are often described as FLEXORS.
While on the other side of the limb there will be some muscles that when they contract, they will straighten or EXTEND the limb and are often referred to as EXTENSORS.
There is also a group of muscles whose main task is to ADDUCT or hold a part of a limb in a certain position while other muscles on the same limb extend flex or rotate the limb, these are often referred to as ADDUCTORS.
And just to help make things a little more confusing many muscles have dual roles such as acting as both an adductor and a tensor or an adductor and a flexor muscle at different times during a greyhounds stride.
Muscle Cell Structure
Before we go on to look at the names and functions of some of the main muscle groups in the greyhound’s body it is worthwhile to take a closer look at how a muscle actually contracts.
There again please keep in mind that the next bit of information is just that, information, and you are not expected to remember the specific names, this is just so you get some idea of how it all works.
Muscle fibre cells are made up of two different types of filaments or strands of protein.
The main muscle fibre protein filaments are connected to the outer cover of the muscle cell, the cell membrane, and these are called ACTIN. In between these ACTIN filaments are other protein filaments called MYOSIN, each group of ACTIN and MYOSIN forming an individual unit or cell that is connected to the next cell.
Muscle contraction occurs when the ACTIN filaments within each single cell slide over the MYOSIN filaments in that cell.
The way the ACTIN and the MYOSIN filaments are stimulated to perform their function is this:
Muscle fibres are connected to the nervous system via, what are called NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS. (Also called motor endplates, after all the muscles are the motors of the body)
When a signal comes from the brain to contract a specific muscle this signal ends up at the NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS.
These junctions then release a substance called ACETYLCHOLINE; the ACETYLCHOLINE then binds to special receptors on the muscle fibres.
This binding stimulates the movement of SODIUM and POTASSIUM IONS through the cell membrane, and it is this movement by these ELECTROLYTIC IONS that creates an electrical activity on the surface of the muscle fibre.
Although this binding of ACETYLCHOLINE on the muscle fibres occurs for only a few milliseconds it generates about four times more electrical activity than is required to stimulate muscle contraction.
This electrical activity is then conducted into the cell where it stimulates the release of CALCIUM IONS and it is this release of CALCIUM IONS within the cell that causes the ACTIN filaments to slide over the MYOSIN filaments.
Therefore for normal muscle contraction to occur, you not only need the appropriate levels of the “electrolytes” such as sodium and potassium, but it is also the level of calcium in the body that is critical, as calcium is required not only for bone structure strength but also for efficient muscle contractions.
Muscle Fibre Characteristics
There are different types of skeletal muscle fibre, and it is type of muscle fibre that predominates in a particular greyhound that determines if that greyhound is a sprinter or stayer and just how fast it can run over a specific distance.
Muscle fibres have specific measurable properties such as:
Peak Force, or just how much strength the muscle fibre can produce
Contraction Velocity, or just how fast a muscle fibre can contract
Resistance to fatigue
Because greyhounds aren't weight lifters, the Peak Force or the strength the muscle fibre can produce while important is not a major consideration.
However, it is the ability of the muscle fibres to contract at high speed and still be Fatigue Resistant that is of more interest to the greyhound trainer.
Muscle Fibre classification
Research into the structure of skeletal muscle fibre has found three main distinctly different types of muscle fibre, and these have been classified as:
Slow fibres, this type of muscle fibre displays slow contraction speed, and an extremely high resistance to fatigue.
Fast, fatigue resistant, of the fibres with fast Contraction Velocity these muscle fibres were found to be able to maintain their Peak Force production even after a large number of contractions.
Fast fatigable, this group of muscle fibres displayed high Contraction Velocity and extremely large forces, but where unable to maintain contractions for any length of time without resting.
From these research results I would have to conclude that the greyhound who is a slow early and continues to run on, must therefore have more Slow Fibres in the skeletal muscle tissue, while the greyhound that races best over 300 metres has mainly Fast Fatigable muscle fibres.
Biochemical differences in muscle fibres
However, what I did find extremely interesting was that the only biochemical difference found between the various types of muscle fibres is the way in which they store and use energy, and in the type of energy used.
The Slow fibres were found to be high in the specific enzyme that is required by muscle cells to utilize oxygen to release energy from stored fat molecules, while they were extremely low in enzymes that make use of blood sugar as an energy source, and were low in ATP activity.
Which confirms what we have known all along and that is to be able run on in a race, you need oxygen and the body needs to be able to use it.
The other interesting aspect of that bit of information is that, if a stayer makes use of fat molecules for energy it makes sense to feed a more fatty diet to a stayer than a sprinter.
It would also make sense to use substances such as L-Carnitine prior to a race to assist in delivering those fat molecules to the muscle cells, and to use B15 in the form of DADA 250 to increase the delivery of oxygen to the muscle tissue. (Keeping in mind the safe withholding times to avoid a positive swab)
The Fast Fatigable muscle fibres were found to be extremely low in the enzymes needed to utilize oxygen but high in the enzymes needed to use blood sugar for energy and high in ATP activity.
Therefore, for those Greyhounds that can only run over the shorter sprint distances, it would make sense to provide them with more complex carbohydrates in the form of kibbled biscuit in the diet.
It would also make sense to use substances such as injectable ATP in the form of Dynacleine, Enerzyme or AMP 5 and/or use CREATINE supplementation.
The Fast, Fatigue Resistant muscle fibres, which are the ones we all want our dogs to have, were found to be high in enzymes that utilize oxygen and blood sugar and high in ATP activity. So if you are fortunate enough to have a Greyhound with Fast, Fatigue Resistant muscle fibres you can in fact make use of all the substances mentioned, such as:
A tablespoon of lard in the diet if the meat you use is lean
L-Carnitine to improve the utilization of fatty acids
DADA 250 to dilate blood vessels and improve oxygen delivery
Enerzyme or Creatine supplementation to increase ATP stores
There is no doubt at all that the structure of the greyhound’s muscle tissue is an inherited trait. However, excellent training methods and the perfect health of the animal can enhance the function of any type of muscle fibre.
There again from my point of view, excellent training methods also include obtaining whatever information or knowledge you can so that you can be more targeted and efficient in both the training and nutrient supply methods.
Muscle Structure, Muscle Names and Likely Injuries
A trainer does not need to know every muscle in the greyhounds body, however every greyhound trainer should be familiar with the muscles that are most frequently involved in racetrack injuries as well as the major types of injuries that may occur.
It would also be nice to know what effect a specific injury will have on the gait or running ability of the greyhound. At least then, after you have watched your greyhound run around the track, you will have some idea as to where the injury is likely to be.
It is therefor in your best interest to undertake to study the function of the various muscles of the greyhounds main muscular system.
COMMON MUSCLE INJURIES
One excellent publication for this purpose would be The Care of the Racing Greyhound.
Muscle Damage
Damage to muscle cells due to excessive exercise or injury, causes changes in the muscle cell membrane and allows muscle enzymes to leak out into the blood.
These enzymes may be tested for in a blood profile and the level or quantity of these enzymes in the blood will give a good indication of the severity or the extent of the damage.
The main enzyme that is tested for is an enzyme called CREATINE PHOSPHOKINASE or abbreviated to CPK.
While some laboratories simply call this enzyme CREATINE KINASE or abbreviated to CK.
There are also two other enzymes that are found in the blood profile that may indicate muscle damage, however these enzymes are also associated with damage to other organs in the body.
Such as LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE or LDH this may indicate recent heart muscle damage, or ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE, which could also indicate heart damage, acute HEPATITIS or severe muscle damage.
If the muscle damage is severe enough, it is not only the enzymes that leak into the blood but also a muscle protein called MYOGLOBIN.
MYOGLOBIN is eliminated from the blood by the kidneys and passed out in the urine, giving the urine a distinct red to brown colour.
If this occurs after a race or trial you will know that the Greyhound has either sustained a muscle injury severe enough to cause MYOGLOBIN to leak out of the damaged area or the Greyhound is suffering severe stress (RHABDOMYOLYSIS)
Greyhounds exhibiting this symptom really do need immediate treatment by your Veterinarian.
The problem is that Myoglobin coagulates in the kidneys tubules and thereby damages the kidneys.
For any greyhounds exhibiting symptoms that indicate Myoglobin in the urine, it is extremely important that any treatment provided encourages the kidneys to increase the amount of fluid being processed.
However, if this is done badly it may also cause the greyhound to severely dehydrate.
Injury Classification
The injuries sustained by the muscle system of the Greyhound may be divided into three basic groups.
These are:
Stage 1 injuries
A stage 1 injury consists of a localized area of muscle that has either severe excessive muscle tone and this may be felt as a harder or tighter area of muscle compared to its twin on the other side of the dog, or as an area of inflammation characterized by a change in consistency, thickness or tone of the muscle.
Stage 1 injuries are extremely common and unfortunately not often enough checked for by either the trainer or their Veterinarian.
There is no doubt in my mind that more severe muscle injuries could be avoided if stage 1 muscle injuries were detected and treated appropriately. There is also no doubt in my mind that it would be extremely unusual for a Greyhound to have two runs behind the lure without sustaining some type of stage 1 muscle injury.
A stage 1 muscle injury may not noticeably affect the gait of the Greyhound other than causing a slight reduction in speed or an intermittent problem with the Greyhound striking the left elbow on the inside of the hind leg, causing slight bruising, or in a severe case a “track leg”.
Stage 2 injuries
A stage 2 muscle injury basically consists of a small tear in the muscle sheath characterized by a distinct hole in the muscle sheath, or a separation between two muscle sheaths or Fascias at a point where they should be connected.
In most instances a stage 2 muscle injury will cause some swelling or fluid in the area of the damage, however in the case of gradual separation of the muscle sheaths or fascias, no swelling and only slight inflammation and pain will be found until such time the problem has become critical.
Stage 3 injuries
Any damage to a muscle that includes the tearing of the muscle sheath and the disruption of the muscle fibres with the resulting haemorrhage and swelling is classified as a stage 3 muscle injury.
When a Greyhound has sustained a stage 3 muscle injury you are looking at major drama in getting the dog back on the track and performing as well as it did prior to the injury. In virtually every case the appropriate treatment for stage 3 muscle injuries will require some surgical treatment or intervention by your Veterinarian.
Injury Treatments
in the treatment of any injury there are three basic steps to the treatment of that injury regardless whether that injury is a stage 1,2 or 3
Taking a shortcut, or leaving out one of these steps will result in the injury reoccurring or becoming much worse the next time you run the dog.
Step 1, Minimize the symptoms caused by the injury
In other words if there is swelling, reduce the swelling, if it is bruised treat the bruising, if there is excessive fluid drain the fluid, if the dog is in pain give him some pain killers, if it needs support strap or bandage it.
Step 2, Heal the injury
Use the appropriate treatment for that injury and stick with it until the injury is fully healed, taking shortcuts does not work, there are no miracle cures that work only on Greyhounds and not on humans.
If someone came up with some magic treatment that heals injuries in two or three days and it really worked, think how much money they could be making treating human athletes or football players.
Step 3, Normalise the muscle
The most common mistake I see made in the treatment of any injury is leaving out step 3.
The Greyhound has hurt itself and you do the right thing and treat the injury appropriately and you believe it is now healed.
You have done the physiotherapy you have massaged and stretched the muscle, and now you run the greyhound and the same spots are sore again, WHY?
Simple, You have not done the most essential part of any treatment.
Let me explain it this way, the Greyhound has been racing over 515 meters, it hurts itself, and you heal the injury.
The rest of the Greyhounds body may be fit enough to run over 515 meters again, unfortunately the area you have healed is not and is probably only fit enough to run 200 or 250 meters.
Normalizing the muscle means making certain that the muscle you have treated is as fit and as sound as the rest of the body.
That means you have two choices, either you start running the Greyhound back over 250 meters again and slowly increase the distance until the weakest part of the body catches up with the rest.
Or you use some muscle-toning device such as a TENS unit or a FARADIC CURRENT stimulator on the treated muscle and exercise that individual muscle while the rest of the dog is lying down.
Injury Treatment Examples
As we have seen injuries may be divided into 3 basic categories.
Stage 1 Injury Treatments
Basic stage 1 injury treatments, ranging from excessive muscle tone to severe strains with inflammation.
Excessive muscle tone with no pain response
Hand massage; a minimum of 50 firm strokes or 1 minute of light finger kneading twice daily for 3 days or massage with a mechanical massager; 20 firm strokes twice daily for 3 days.
Excessive muscle tone with slight pain response
Treat as for item 1 + apply heat producing liniment after each treatment, then one TENS or contractor treatment as per item 3 after all massage treatments have been completed.
Minor inflammation with slight pain response
TENS treatment for 1 minute daily for 3 days using gentle contractions only, apply heat producing liniment after each treatment.
Or muscle contractor treatment consisting of 20 full contractions daily for 3 days + apply heat producing liniment after each treatment.
Inflammation with pain response
Ultrasound treatment consisting of 2 treatments on day 1 at 1.2 watts for 3 minutes, 2 treatments on day 2 at 1.8 watts for 5 minutes, 2 treatments on day 3 at 1.8 watts for 5 minutes, then TENS or contractor treatment as per item 3 for the next two days.
Drug therapy for stage 1 injuries is generally not a worthwhile option as all anti inflammatory drugs are very likely to cause a positive swab and in addition delay healing response leaving a minor injury open to becoming much worse. Take care, not to infringe the rules of racing, a positive swab is likely to result in at least a 3-month disqualification and a substantial fine.
Stage 2 injury treatments, ranging from a small tear in a muscle sheath to excessive separation of the muscle sheath or fascia between two muscles.
In each case the initial treatment will be to relieve any swelling, so that the full extend of the injury may be diagnosed.
If at that point in time, it is discovered that the tear or split is in excess of 2.5 centimetres (1 Inch) for separation between muscle sheaths or in excess of 1.5 centimetres (1/2 Inch) in a muscle sheath, Veterinary advice should be sought, as this amount of damage may be best treated with surgery.
Healing by fibrosis using a sclerosing agent MEROLIN (5% MONO-ETHANOLAMINE OLEATE) or FIBRO-VEIN (3% SODIUM TETRADECYL SULPHATE).
Using a 1 ml syringe with a 29 gauge needle inject 1/20th of 1 ml at 15 mm centres around the edge of the damage, angling the needle to place the product 5 mm below the muscle sheath.
Ice pack 3 X daily for the first 48 hours, then rest for a further 24 hours prior to starting ultrasound treatments.
Ultrasound treatment, first daily for two days at 0.8 watts, then 2 x daily for 3 days at 1.2 watts, then further daily treatments for 3 days at 1.8 watts, rest the area a further 48 hours before starting TENS or contractor treatments.
After each TENS or contractor treatment the area should be massaged with LASONIL and stretched by the appropriate limb movement.
Stage 3 injuries
If you are unfortunate enough for your Greyhound to suffer a torn muscle, cold pack as soon as possible to reduce the swelling and seek urgent Veterinary advice.
However, if the Greyhound is over 3 years of age retirement may be a better option.
It is the skeletal muscle system that is the motor that moves the Greyhound around the track and as such is subject to injuries of overuse, breakdown of muscle cells as well as strains tears and ruptures.
To understand how or why a muscle breaks down, you need to have some knowledge of how muscle functions, as well as a basic understanding of the general muscle structure and an understanding of which muscles are most likely to be involved in racetrack injuries.
It should be noted that there are two other types of muscles in the body besides the skeletal muscle; they are heart muscle and the smooth muscles that are found in the stomach, intestines and the blood vessels. Both these types of muscle are involuntary muscles, and as such are not under the conscious control of the Greyhound.
Commonly used terms
In discussions on muscle structure you may hear the terms “the origin of a muscle” or the “insertion of a muscle” please remember that the term “the origin” refers to the uppermost attachment of the muscle, while the “insertion” refers to the lower most attachment of the muscle. While “medial” means inside and “lateral” means outside.
Skeletal muscles for the most part are connected to the bone structure by means of a tendon and only occasionally by direct fibre attachment to the bone.
When a muscle contracts and shortens in length it moves the bones it is connected to in a certain direction.
On one side of a limb there will be some muscles that will bend or FLEX the limb, and as such they are often described as FLEXORS.
While on the other side of the limb there will be some muscles that when they contract, they will straighten or EXTEND the limb and are often referred to as EXTENSORS.
There is also a group of muscles whose main task is to ADDUCT or hold a part of a limb in a certain position while other muscles on the same limb extend flex or rotate the limb, these are often referred to as ADDUCTORS.
And just to help make things a little more confusing many muscles have dual roles such as acting as both an adductor and a tensor or an adductor and a flexor muscle at different times during a greyhounds stride.
Muscle Cell Structure
Before we go on to look at the names and functions of some of the main muscle groups in the greyhound’s body it is worthwhile to take a closer look at how a muscle actually contracts.
There again please keep in mind that the next bit of information is just that, information, and you are not expected to remember the specific names, this is just so you get some idea of how it all works.
Muscle fibre cells are made up of two different types of filaments or strands of protein.
The main muscle fibre protein filaments are connected to the outer cover of the muscle cell, the cell membrane, and these are called ACTIN. In between these ACTIN filaments are other protein filaments called MYOSIN, each group of ACTIN and MYOSIN forming an individual unit or cell that is connected to the next cell.
Muscle contraction occurs when the ACTIN filaments within each single cell slide over the MYOSIN filaments in that cell.
The way the ACTIN and the MYOSIN filaments are stimulated to perform their function is this:
Muscle fibres are connected to the nervous system via, what are called NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS. (Also called motor endplates, after all the muscles are the motors of the body)
When a signal comes from the brain to contract a specific muscle this signal ends up at the NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS.
These junctions then release a substance called ACETYLCHOLINE; the ACETYLCHOLINE then binds to special receptors on the muscle fibres.
This binding stimulates the movement of SODIUM and POTASSIUM IONS through the cell membrane, and it is this movement by these ELECTROLYTIC IONS that creates an electrical activity on the surface of the muscle fibre.
Although this binding of ACETYLCHOLINE on the muscle fibres occurs for only a few milliseconds it generates about four times more electrical activity than is required to stimulate muscle contraction.
This electrical activity is then conducted into the cell where it stimulates the release of CALCIUM IONS and it is this release of CALCIUM IONS within the cell that causes the ACTIN filaments to slide over the MYOSIN filaments.
Therefore for normal muscle contraction to occur, you not only need the appropriate levels of the “electrolytes” such as sodium and potassium, but it is also the level of calcium in the body that is critical, as calcium is required not only for bone structure strength but also for efficient muscle contractions.
Muscle Fibre Characteristics
There are different types of skeletal muscle fibre, and it is type of muscle fibre that predominates in a particular greyhound that determines if that greyhound is a sprinter or stayer and just how fast it can run over a specific distance.
Muscle fibres have specific measurable properties such as:
Peak Force, or just how much strength the muscle fibre can produce
Contraction Velocity, or just how fast a muscle fibre can contract
Resistance to fatigue
Because greyhounds aren't weight lifters, the Peak Force or the strength the muscle fibre can produce while important is not a major consideration.
However, it is the ability of the muscle fibres to contract at high speed and still be Fatigue Resistant that is of more interest to the greyhound trainer.
Muscle Fibre classification
Research into the structure of skeletal muscle fibre has found three main distinctly different types of muscle fibre, and these have been classified as:
Slow fibres, this type of muscle fibre displays slow contraction speed, and an extremely high resistance to fatigue.
Fast, fatigue resistant, of the fibres with fast Contraction Velocity these muscle fibres were found to be able to maintain their Peak Force production even after a large number of contractions.
Fast fatigable, this group of muscle fibres displayed high Contraction Velocity and extremely large forces, but where unable to maintain contractions for any length of time without resting.
From these research results I would have to conclude that the greyhound who is a slow early and continues to run on, must therefore have more Slow Fibres in the skeletal muscle tissue, while the greyhound that races best over 300 metres has mainly Fast Fatigable muscle fibres.
Biochemical differences in muscle fibres
However, what I did find extremely interesting was that the only biochemical difference found between the various types of muscle fibres is the way in which they store and use energy, and in the type of energy used.
The Slow fibres were found to be high in the specific enzyme that is required by muscle cells to utilize oxygen to release energy from stored fat molecules, while they were extremely low in enzymes that make use of blood sugar as an energy source, and were low in ATP activity.
Which confirms what we have known all along and that is to be able run on in a race, you need oxygen and the body needs to be able to use it.
The other interesting aspect of that bit of information is that, if a stayer makes use of fat molecules for energy it makes sense to feed a more fatty diet to a stayer than a sprinter.
It would also make sense to use substances such as L-Carnitine prior to a race to assist in delivering those fat molecules to the muscle cells, and to use B15 in the form of DADA 250 to increase the delivery of oxygen to the muscle tissue. (Keeping in mind the safe withholding times to avoid a positive swab)
The Fast Fatigable muscle fibres were found to be extremely low in the enzymes needed to utilize oxygen but high in the enzymes needed to use blood sugar for energy and high in ATP activity.
Therefore, for those Greyhounds that can only run over the shorter sprint distances, it would make sense to provide them with more complex carbohydrates in the form of kibbled biscuit in the diet.
It would also make sense to use substances such as injectable ATP in the form of Dynacleine, Enerzyme or AMP 5 and/or use CREATINE supplementation.
The Fast, Fatigue Resistant muscle fibres, which are the ones we all want our dogs to have, were found to be high in enzymes that utilize oxygen and blood sugar and high in ATP activity. So if you are fortunate enough to have a Greyhound with Fast, Fatigue Resistant muscle fibres you can in fact make use of all the substances mentioned, such as:
A tablespoon of lard in the diet if the meat you use is lean
L-Carnitine to improve the utilization of fatty acids
DADA 250 to dilate blood vessels and improve oxygen delivery
Enerzyme or Creatine supplementation to increase ATP stores
There is no doubt at all that the structure of the greyhound’s muscle tissue is an inherited trait. However, excellent training methods and the perfect health of the animal can enhance the function of any type of muscle fibre.
There again from my point of view, excellent training methods also include obtaining whatever information or knowledge you can so that you can be more targeted and efficient in both the training and nutrient supply methods.
Muscle Structure, Muscle Names and Likely Injuries
A trainer does not need to know every muscle in the greyhounds body, however every greyhound trainer should be familiar with the muscles that are most frequently involved in racetrack injuries as well as the major types of injuries that may occur.
It would also be nice to know what effect a specific injury will have on the gait or running ability of the greyhound. At least then, after you have watched your greyhound run around the track, you will have some idea as to where the injury is likely to be.
It is therefor in your best interest to undertake to study the function of the various muscles of the greyhounds main muscular system.
COMMON MUSCLE INJURIES
One excellent publication for this purpose would be The Care of the Racing Greyhound.
Muscle Damage
Damage to muscle cells due to excessive exercise or injury, causes changes in the muscle cell membrane and allows muscle enzymes to leak out into the blood.
These enzymes may be tested for in a blood profile and the level or quantity of these enzymes in the blood will give a good indication of the severity or the extent of the damage.
The main enzyme that is tested for is an enzyme called CREATINE PHOSPHOKINASE or abbreviated to CPK.
While some laboratories simply call this enzyme CREATINE KINASE or abbreviated to CK.
There are also two other enzymes that are found in the blood profile that may indicate muscle damage, however these enzymes are also associated with damage to other organs in the body.
Such as LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE or LDH this may indicate recent heart muscle damage, or ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE, which could also indicate heart damage, acute HEPATITIS or severe muscle damage.
If the muscle damage is severe enough, it is not only the enzymes that leak into the blood but also a muscle protein called MYOGLOBIN.
MYOGLOBIN is eliminated from the blood by the kidneys and passed out in the urine, giving the urine a distinct red to brown colour.
If this occurs after a race or trial you will know that the Greyhound has either sustained a muscle injury severe enough to cause MYOGLOBIN to leak out of the damaged area or the Greyhound is suffering severe stress (RHABDOMYOLYSIS)
Greyhounds exhibiting this symptom really do need immediate treatment by your Veterinarian.
The problem is that Myoglobin coagulates in the kidneys tubules and thereby damages the kidneys.
For any greyhounds exhibiting symptoms that indicate Myoglobin in the urine, it is extremely important that any treatment provided encourages the kidneys to increase the amount of fluid being processed.
However, if this is done badly it may also cause the greyhound to severely dehydrate.
Injury Classification
The injuries sustained by the muscle system of the Greyhound may be divided into three basic groups.
These are:
Stage 1 injuries
A stage 1 injury consists of a localized area of muscle that has either severe excessive muscle tone and this may be felt as a harder or tighter area of muscle compared to its twin on the other side of the dog, or as an area of inflammation characterized by a change in consistency, thickness or tone of the muscle.
Stage 1 injuries are extremely common and unfortunately not often enough checked for by either the trainer or their Veterinarian.
There is no doubt in my mind that more severe muscle injuries could be avoided if stage 1 muscle injuries were detected and treated appropriately. There is also no doubt in my mind that it would be extremely unusual for a Greyhound to have two runs behind the lure without sustaining some type of stage 1 muscle injury.
A stage 1 muscle injury may not noticeably affect the gait of the Greyhound other than causing a slight reduction in speed or an intermittent problem with the Greyhound striking the left elbow on the inside of the hind leg, causing slight bruising, or in a severe case a “track leg”.
Stage 2 injuries
A stage 2 muscle injury basically consists of a small tear in the muscle sheath characterized by a distinct hole in the muscle sheath, or a separation between two muscle sheaths or Fascias at a point where they should be connected.
In most instances a stage 2 muscle injury will cause some swelling or fluid in the area of the damage, however in the case of gradual separation of the muscle sheaths or fascias, no swelling and only slight inflammation and pain will be found until such time the problem has become critical.
Stage 3 injuries
Any damage to a muscle that includes the tearing of the muscle sheath and the disruption of the muscle fibres with the resulting haemorrhage and swelling is classified as a stage 3 muscle injury.
When a Greyhound has sustained a stage 3 muscle injury you are looking at major drama in getting the dog back on the track and performing as well as it did prior to the injury. In virtually every case the appropriate treatment for stage 3 muscle injuries will require some surgical treatment or intervention by your Veterinarian.
Injury Treatments
in the treatment of any injury there are three basic steps to the treatment of that injury regardless whether that injury is a stage 1,2 or 3
Taking a shortcut, or leaving out one of these steps will result in the injury reoccurring or becoming much worse the next time you run the dog.
Step 1, Minimize the symptoms caused by the injury
In other words if there is swelling, reduce the swelling, if it is bruised treat the bruising, if there is excessive fluid drain the fluid, if the dog is in pain give him some pain killers, if it needs support strap or bandage it.
Step 2, Heal the injury
Use the appropriate treatment for that injury and stick with it until the injury is fully healed, taking shortcuts does not work, there are no miracle cures that work only on Greyhounds and not on humans.
If someone came up with some magic treatment that heals injuries in two or three days and it really worked, think how much money they could be making treating human athletes or football players.
Step 3, Normalise the muscle
The most common mistake I see made in the treatment of any injury is leaving out step 3.
The Greyhound has hurt itself and you do the right thing and treat the injury appropriately and you believe it is now healed.
You have done the physiotherapy you have massaged and stretched the muscle, and now you run the greyhound and the same spots are sore again, WHY?
Simple, You have not done the most essential part of any treatment.
Let me explain it this way, the Greyhound has been racing over 515 meters, it hurts itself, and you heal the injury.
The rest of the Greyhounds body may be fit enough to run over 515 meters again, unfortunately the area you have healed is not and is probably only fit enough to run 200 or 250 meters.
Normalizing the muscle means making certain that the muscle you have treated is as fit and as sound as the rest of the body.
That means you have two choices, either you start running the Greyhound back over 250 meters again and slowly increase the distance until the weakest part of the body catches up with the rest.
Or you use some muscle-toning device such as a TENS unit or a FARADIC CURRENT stimulator on the treated muscle and exercise that individual muscle while the rest of the dog is lying down.
Injury Treatment Examples
As we have seen injuries may be divided into 3 basic categories.
Stage 1 Injury Treatments
Basic stage 1 injury treatments, ranging from excessive muscle tone to severe strains with inflammation.
Excessive muscle tone with no pain response
Hand massage; a minimum of 50 firm strokes or 1 minute of light finger kneading twice daily for 3 days or massage with a mechanical massager; 20 firm strokes twice daily for 3 days.
Excessive muscle tone with slight pain response
Treat as for item 1 + apply heat producing liniment after each treatment, then one TENS or contractor treatment as per item 3 after all massage treatments have been completed.
Minor inflammation with slight pain response
TENS treatment for 1 minute daily for 3 days using gentle contractions only, apply heat producing liniment after each treatment.
Or muscle contractor treatment consisting of 20 full contractions daily for 3 days + apply heat producing liniment after each treatment.
Inflammation with pain response
Ultrasound treatment consisting of 2 treatments on day 1 at 1.2 watts for 3 minutes, 2 treatments on day 2 at 1.8 watts for 5 minutes, 2 treatments on day 3 at 1.8 watts for 5 minutes, then TENS or contractor treatment as per item 3 for the next two days.
Drug therapy for stage 1 injuries is generally not a worthwhile option as all anti inflammatory drugs are very likely to cause a positive swab and in addition delay healing response leaving a minor injury open to becoming much worse. Take care, not to infringe the rules of racing, a positive swab is likely to result in at least a 3-month disqualification and a substantial fine.
Stage 2 injury treatments, ranging from a small tear in a muscle sheath to excessive separation of the muscle sheath or fascia between two muscles.
In each case the initial treatment will be to relieve any swelling, so that the full extend of the injury may be diagnosed.
If at that point in time, it is discovered that the tear or split is in excess of 2.5 centimetres (1 Inch) for separation between muscle sheaths or in excess of 1.5 centimetres (1/2 Inch) in a muscle sheath, Veterinary advice should be sought, as this amount of damage may be best treated with surgery.
Healing by fibrosis using a sclerosing agent MEROLIN (5% MONO-ETHANOLAMINE OLEATE) or FIBRO-VEIN (3% SODIUM TETRADECYL SULPHATE).
Using a 1 ml syringe with a 29 gauge needle inject 1/20th of 1 ml at 15 mm centres around the edge of the damage, angling the needle to place the product 5 mm below the muscle sheath.
Ice pack 3 X daily for the first 48 hours, then rest for a further 24 hours prior to starting ultrasound treatments.
Ultrasound treatment, first daily for two days at 0.8 watts, then 2 x daily for 3 days at 1.2 watts, then further daily treatments for 3 days at 1.8 watts, rest the area a further 48 hours before starting TENS or contractor treatments.
After each TENS or contractor treatment the area should be massaged with LASONIL and stretched by the appropriate limb movement.
Stage 3 injuries
If you are unfortunate enough for your Greyhound to suffer a torn muscle, cold pack as soon as possible to reduce the swelling and seek urgent Veterinary advice.
However, if the Greyhound is over 3 years of age retirement may be a better option.