[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Stifles, hocks and muscles
- From: carolyn mckenna <carolynmckenna@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: nancy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 21:42:48 -0800 (PST)
nancy, you have brought up a very interesting educational thread. Length
of muscle is directly related to length of bone and, in turn, to efficiency of
action. There has been much said about dragging toes, but it seems noone
cares to discuss it . Please, let's get some theories, opinions, arguments
going on this most serious problem. This is the way we can not only help
each other but also help our breed.
Thanks for the start, Carolyn
Nancy Harper <nancy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:What about muscles? Long muscles
like on Greyhounds and short muscles like on Bulldogs are very different from
the (for lack of a better word) medium length muscles found on correct
Shepherds. One of the main muscles contributing to rear drive is the
gastrocnemius muscle (sp) It is attached to the tip of the hock through the
Achilles tendon. This muscle is there to open the lower angle of the rear leg.
If the dog has a very long, or over angulated stifle then the stifle is
usually longer then the femur and they should be of equal length. To open up
the angle the muscle must use greater strength and force and this can cause a
lot of stress on the tendons. A stifle that is not in balance with the femur
changes the center of gravity pushing it backwards and placing more stress on
the lubar area which is not built for that kind of stress. The Achilles tendon
is lengthened and this reduces the power of the muscle. I wonder
if
dragging toes and lack of powerful under drive and
follow through is not also related to a muscle problem caused by a stifle
being too long. As a great mentor once said "Angulation means the relative
position of bones to each other during phases of movement". The position of
bones is important because it directly influences muscle action. I believe
short, strong, thick hocks contribute to the power of the drive. One of my
bitches hocks are too long and I can tell the effect it has on her after
working for a while. Others of mind have different things I would change.
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2005. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.showgsd.org
============================================================================
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2005. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.showgsd.org
============================================================================
Other related posts:
