MWD Functional Assessment – Preserving the Fighting Force – presented by Andrea Henderson

Human physical therapists and sports medicine practitioners rely heavily on functional assessments for baseline evaluation and as criteria for fitness and for return to sport in human patients and athletes.  However, functional assessments are limited in development and underutilized in veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation.  The author’s group developed a functional assessment intended for Military Working Dogs, based on their required performance parameters, and comprised of tasks for which reported dysfunction was observed specifically for dogs with lumbosacral pain (Henderson et al 2014). As our understanding of the mechanics of movement improves with varying sources of pain and injury, we should develop and refine tests to isolate and localize the specific causes of dysfunction in coordination with neuromusculoskeletal exam findings.  Some positions or transitions can potentially differentiate between sources of pain and injury based on the specific postures adopted.  The authors have developed a Foundational Functional Assessment for Military Working Dogs for experienced handlers and trainers (attached) to identify the dogs’ fitness for duty on a regular basis, and a version for veterinarians to incorporate into their semi-annual physical exams. As MWDs tend to be very stoic for examinations, and their drive may override pain during certain aspects of work and training, a standardized functional assessment may be the best means of identifying sources of pain and injury to facilitate early intervention.

Functional assessments are essential indicators of capability to perform in and, after injury, return to work and sport in human athletes, and should be considered in working and sporting dogs as well.  Further research, development and refinement of veterinary functional assessments are needed, with the goals of identifying early signs of neuromusculoskeletal disease and mitigating risk of re-injury.  Attention should be given to the dog’s specific duty, particular tissues and associated mechanics involved, and a potential neuroplasticity element to optimize these critical outcome measures.

Coming soon.