Location of Trigger Points in a Group of Police Working Dogs: A Preliminary Study

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This research looked at the number and position of sore points in police working dogs. The study selected twelve dogs from a military police kennel based on convenience. Only dogs that were active, had no other health issues or changes seen in X-rays, and were involved in six hours of intense physical activity each day were included. The dogs underwent examinations to check their health, and two independent examiners inspected them to find any sore points called trigger points (TPs). The location of the TPs was noted using an anatomical figure. The highest percentage of TPs was found in the lower back muscles (42%), followed by the muscles in the back, groin, thigh, and inner thigh (33%). Most of the TPs were found on the right side of the body. This study found that police working dogs had a higher percentage of TPs in their spinal and hind limb muscles, especially on the right side. These findings can help improve methods to prevent muscle pain and reduce the need for early retirement due to musculoskeletal pain in these dogs. It also brings attention to this problem that can affect dogs. ABSTRACT: This study examined the percentage and location of trigger points in police working dogs. Twelve dogs housed at a military police kennel were selected through convenience sampling. Only active dogs with no comorbidities or radiographic changes doing 6 hours of intense physical activity per day were included. After orthopedic and neurological examination, dogs were palpated for the detection of trigger points (TPs), carried out by two independent examiners, with criteria of palpations previously standardized. TPs were recorded using an anatomy reference image according to the corresponding anatomical location. The percentage of TPs was highest in the lumbar portion of the longissimus dorsi muscle (42%), followed by the latissimus dorsi, pectineus, quadriceps femoris, and sartorius (33%) muscles. Most TPs were located on the right side of the body. This study’s percentage of TPs in police working dogs was higher in spinal and hind limb muscles, especially on the right side. The major criteria for identifying TPs in dogs were the pain responses to palpation and contractile local response. The findings of this study could be used to refine myofascial pain prevention to reduce early retirement due to musculoskeletal pain and draw attention to this kind of problem that can also affect dogs.