Mushing, canicross, bike/skijoring, weight pulling… Traction sports for dogs require demanding physical conditioning. To perform well and protect the dogs from common pathologies in this type of activity, training is rigorous and physical monitoring is a priority.
Sybille Leblanc, a physical trainer for dogs, takes us into the world of canine traction sports!
The most engaged muscles in sled dogs
In canine traction sports, the most engaged muscles are primarily located in the forelimbs, trunk, and hindlimbs.
Forelimbs:
- The shoulder muscles: deltoid, supraspinatus, contribute to shoulder stabilization and enable forward movement in protraction.
- The arm muscles: biceps brachii and brachialis (elbow flexion to pull the sled forward), triceps (elbow extension).
- The forearm muscles: flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi ulnaris (allow elbow flexion, wrist stabilization).
Trunk:
The abdominals and latissimus dorsi: It is important for dogs to have a well-developed abdominal belt to allow the transfer of energy provided by the hindlimbs. The abdominals also contribute to stabilization and balance during traction (the more stabilized the pelvis, the less energy loss there is).
Hindlimbs:
- The gluteal muscles, primarily the gluteus medius.
- The thigh muscles: tensor fasciae latae and quadriceps muscle.
- The hamstrings: semimembranosus and semitendinosus.
- The leg muscles: gastrocnemius (for hock extension).
Common Pathologies in Sled Dogs
- Stress fractures in the metacarpal bones (metacarpals III and IV).
- Carpal ligament sprains, common injuries in long-distance events (due to improper footing on snow or synchronization issues in harnessing). The higher the speed, the more severe the injury can be.
- Inflammation of the tendon sheaths of the flexor carpi ulnaris.
- Biceps brachii tendonitis (fatigue, gait issues).
- Rupture of the long head of the triceps brachii.
- Interscapular inflammation (due to excessive stretching of the stride).
- Shoulder muscle contractures.
- Less common, these injuries mainly affect wheel dogs subjected to high tension in the harness:
- Sacroiliac luxation (importance of having a properly sized harness that is not too long).
- Psoas muscle contractures.
- Contractures: gastrocnémien, gracile, sartorius.
- Strain, elongation: semi-membraneux, semi-tendineux, gracile.
- Tear of the gastrocnemius muscle (sudden acceleration uphill, inadequate warm-up).
- Rupture of the Achilles tendon or gastrocnemius tendon.
Pre-Competition Massage Preparation for Sled Dogs
Pre-event massage preparation for sport dogs is a beneficial practice performed before the event to optimize athletic performance.
Its primary goal is to warm up all muscle tissues without targeting tension points, which are addressed by other types of massages.
Pre-event massage, common among high-level human athletes, prepares muscle groups for exertion by enhancing mobility, flexibility, and endurance.
Cutaneous receptors and receptors in tendons, muscles, ligaments, and joints are stimulated through mechanical actions such as pressure. This increases flexibility and range of motion while improving the delivery of oxygenated blood to the muscles.
Pre-event massage also helps reduce injury risks by preventing cramps and muscle tension. By stimulating blood circulation, it ensures optimal delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles.
Performed during the warm-up phase, it targets the entire muscle mass, including respiratory muscles, thereby enhancing the animal's respiratory capacity, a crucial asset for racing dogs.
Quantifiable and measurable data from Tendiboots™ Canine to assess the impact of preparatory massages conducted by Sybille Leblanc
I am currently conducting a study as part of my training in canine/equine massage (Equiphysio). My goal is to determine the impact of pre-event massage on the performance of sled dogs. My initial findings, using data from Tendiboots™ Canine, highlight that pre-event massages improve stride length and ground reaction force parameters.
An increase in stride length leads to a decrease in the number of strides. The average speed also tends to improve for dogs receiving pre-event massage. However, this is not the case for maximum speed.
Studies in human and equine medicine demonstrate several benefits of reducing the number of strides through increased stride length:
- Reducing the number of strides decreases the impacts and injury risks.
- Increasing stride length helps conserve energy during the race. This allows the dog to have more energy for the final sprint.
- Longer stride lengths contribute to oxygen economy. Conversely, a high stride frequency increases heart rate and oxygen demands, leading to quicker fatigue for athletes. To increase speed, it would therefore be beneficial to improve stride length rather than frequency, especially in long-distance events.
- Longer stride lengths also increase suspension phases. These suspension phases (times when the animal is not in contact with the ground) are moments of recovery for the athlete.
Overall, the objective data provided by the Tendiboots Canine locomotion analysis tool highlight that pre-event massage contributes to an improvement in the endurance of the animals.
Pre-event massage therefore appears to be particularly beneficial for canine athletes participating in medium and long-distance races."
Limiting injuries and enhancing performance of sled dogs
"From my experience with musher Gaël Brossette (Team Nordic of Blue Barber), physical preparation of the dogs is crucial.
Integrating individual preparations for each dog is very interesting.
Testing the pulling quality for each animal allows discovering their strengths and weaknesses.
We don't always realize, in group work, the individual and real capabilities (or incapacities) of each dog.
For example, we might think that a certain animal is not the most performant, when in reality, it brings a lot of stability to the group.
Team preparations could be greatly improved, in my opinion, by integrating this type of individual testing."
In addition to physical preparation, massage therapy is highly complementary in preventing injuries and preparing for performance. It is well developed in human athletes and is also frequently used in equine sports. However, massage therapy remains underutilized in canine sports, which is unfortunate because it is a significant asset for enhancing athletic movements and improving performance.
Massage therapy complements osteopathic and veterinary care."
The different types of canine massages
Maintenance massage
This includes stretching and aims to maintain overall physical condition, prevent injuries, promote muscle and joint flexibility, and reduce muscle tension.
The techniques used include effleurage, gliding pressures, kneading, stationary pressure, skin sliding, insertion stretches, decording, shaking, percussion, kneading, and friction. This type of massage is performed regularly once or twice a week as needed.
Preparation massage
It prepares the dog for intense activity and is performed during the warm-up phase, ideally at least 1 hour before exertion.
The techniques used include gliding pressures, stimulating to warm up the muscles and increase blood circulation, light kneading to loosen the muscles without fatiguing them. Shaking and percussion are effective techniques to prepare the muscle groups for activity. This type of massage is rhythmic to stimulate readiness.
Recovery massage
It helps in recovery after intense effort, reducing muscle pain and tension. Its goal is also to eliminate toxins accumulated in the muscles and provide overall relaxation to the animal.
The techniques used include gentle effleurage to soothe tired muscles, gliding pressures that promote relaxation of muscle fibers and facilitate deep blood circulation, lymphatic drainage to aid in toxin elimination and reduce swelling, moderate kneading to promote muscle regeneration and relaxation of tense muscles, as well as stretching to improve flexibility and prevent muscle stiffness.
Recovery massage is performed 1 to 2 hours after exertion.
Article written in collaboration with Sybille Leblanc, physical trainer for sport dogs.
Website : https://bien-etre-sybille.fr
