Motor Control
and Movement Patterns

 

in Canine Conditioning and Rehabilitation

What is motor control?

A function of the brain, with the ability to regulate and direct mechanisms essential to movement. Movement patterns are stored in the Motor Control Centre of the brain, which directs motion through the spinal cord and muscles.
 

What is dynamic stability?

A mechanism of balance during movement: postural control
 

What is proprioception?

The ability of the body to react to stimuli that influence body position, body movement, and balance

What is the association between motor control and dynamic stability?

Simply put, the brain receives proprioceptive stimuli, and regulates movement accordingly
 

How is motor control affected by issues such as spinal dysfunction, degenerative joint disease, or soft-tissue lesions in the limbs?

The brain receives pain signals from sensory receptors that are found throughout the body. As a protective mechanism, it alters movement to ‘protect’ the painful area. Over time, this leads to abnormal movement patterns and proprioceptive deficits. In other words, normal movement patterns are disrupted.

Muscle function alters (muscles involved with creation of movement take on the role of joint stabilization) and neurogenic atrophy occurs in muscles related to movement of a spinal region or specific joint complex. The original motor pathways between the brain and the affected body part are no longer functional.

Degenerative joint disease in the canine shoulder
canineCCband™ for scapulothoracic strengthening

HOW DOES canineCCband™ FIT INTO MOTOR CONTROL (RE)TRAINING?

Once pain and inflammation have resolved, compensatory muscular function does not automatically revert to normal function. In conditions of the spine and limbs, atrophy and altered neural function of the adjacent (core) stabilizing muscles leave joint segments susceptible to excessive micro-motion, suboptimal joint stability, and the potential for further clinical issues.

Specific muscle retraining/reactivation exercises are essential to promote dynamic stability. Movement retraining is achieved by specific motor-control exercises (ground-based) and dynamic neuromuscular facilitation techniques, as well as proprioceptive exercise tools such as the canineCCband™ system.

WHY IS canineCCband™ UNIQUE?

  • No habituation to the resistance band, providing constant proprioceptive feedback in motion – this is lost with other materials (such as soft bandages) that slip, move or curl
  • Direct and constant stimulation of core musculature during locomotion
  • Continuous physical resistance promoting stability in movement
  • The dog maintains a constant posture during dynamic exercise – no possibility of ‘cheating’ strategies
  • canineCCband™ is made of latex-free rubber, designed with a unique texture that promotes constant proprioceptive input to the anatomical area of application
www.pdsa.org.uk

canineCCband™ is the unique professional resistance band for
canine rehabilitation and conditioning

ORDER NOW

ABOUT       CONNECT

 
+1 (0) 7548 789 713 • 13 WISTARIA CLOSE, BRENTWOOD, ESSEX, CM15 9PR, UNITED KINGDOM • EMAIL office@caninecoreconcepts.com