WHY DO DOGS NEED KNEE SURGERY? Dogs are susceptible to knee problems, mainly due to degeneration and tears, not necessarily acute injuries. Over 1 million ligament repairs are done in dogs every year, at a cost of over $1 billion dollars to U.S. dog owners. This surgery is often performed on both hind limbs of a dog at the same time. The surgery is not intended for small dogs because the leg bones must be strong enough to endure the drilling required for the surgery. Newfoundlands, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers are among the breeds that most often require this surgery.
ANOTHER INTERESTING USE OF TREADMILLS: Using motion detector cameras, physical therapists analyzed how patients move on a specially designed split-belt treadmill. It's designed to help people recover after a stroke. The belts are divided to move together or at independent speeds. When the legs move at speeds different from one another, the brain receives an error signal and the brain and nervous system use the feedback to adjust. The cerebellum recalls this message even after the treadmill stops and for a few minutes, patients can walk easier.
The Optical Society contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.