Effects of a whole-body vibration on quadriceps femoris muscles in dogs with hip dysplasia

Abstract

Vibrating platforms machines are equipments used mostly in physiotherapy in human patients, they produce whole-body vibrations. For the use of the whole-body vibration in rehabilitation of dogs with degenerative join disease (e.g.: hip displasia) and others musculoskeletal diseases it is necessary to investigate the possibles influences of vibrating platform in hypertrophy of the quadriceps femoris muscles and as conservative treatment to those diseases. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the long lasting effects of whole-body vibration on quadriceps femoris muscles of dog with hip displasia. Therefore, a minimum of 10 medium to large sized dogs with diagnosis of hip displasia will participate. The dogs will be submitted to platform exercise three times per week for 16 week. The test will be accomplished with 30 Hz frequency for 5 minutes, followed by increasing the frequency to 50 Hz for 5 minutes and ending at 30 Hz frequency for 5 minutes, without rest. Kinetics analysis using the pressure plate, surface electromyography and measurement of quadriceps femoris muscles will be performed before use the platform, at the eighth and at the sixteenth week of vibrating platform use. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry will be evaluated at the beginning of the treatment and repeated every four weeks until the end of treatment. All data collected will be statistically analysed using paired T-test and analysis of variance to repeated samples. Differences will be considered statistically significant with p < 0,05. (AU)