Forelimb muscle activity during level and progressive incline and decline walking in dogs and implications for rehabilitation

Decline walking significantly increases muscle activity in the supraspinatus and deltoideus muscles of dogs. This study provides new insights regarding the muscle activity of the thoracic limbs in dogs during various treadmill positions at the walk. The impact of incremental treadmill positions on the average supraspinatus EMG activity, along with increases in the average and peak EMG activity of the deltoideus muscle during decline walking should be considered when developing a therapeutic exercise plan in canine patients with shoulder injuries.