“A preliminary study to investigate relationships of vertebral and pelvic misalignment relative to age, mass, training distances, speeds and number of seasons completed in canicross sport dogs.” Research Dissertation Abstract 2022 Vicky Long
1.1Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate canicross dogs and any relationships between the total number of vertebral misalignments and pelvic misalignments considering the dogs age, mass, speed, and distances trained. This preliminary research could help inform owners of the potential for misalignments and so the benefits of manipulative therapy, such as McTimoney, to help maintain comfort and longevity in the sport.
1.2 Method Thirty-three dogs were palpated by an experienced McTimoney practitioner during a lapped event at the end of the canicross season. The practitioner was blinded to the background data given by the owner or handler of the dogs. The total number and location of the misalignments were statistically tested against the dogs age, experience level, mass, speed, and distances trained.
1.3 Results The increase in speed of training had a statistically significant correlation to the increasing number of misalignments found (r=-0.345(p=0.049)). There was no statistically significant correlation found between total number of misalignments and age (p=0.18), weekly distance trained (p=0.39) and mass (p=0.83). There was no statistically significant correlation found between dog experience groups (novice and experienced) and total number of misalignments (p=0.059), numbers of misalignments found in the cervical region (p=0.352), thoracic region (p=0.0784), lumbar region (p=0.704) and pelvis (p=0.98).
1.4 Conclusion Increasing speed of training or racing of canicross dogs was found to statistically increase the number of misalignments present. Age, mass, and weekly distances trained did not have statistically significant association with the numbers of misalignments present. This research has provided a basis for future studies to further research the effect of vertebral and pelvic misalignments, and their correction, in canicross dogs. It was noted that a low proportion of dogs were still taking part in the sport for more than six seasons for reasons undetermined
Comments