Incline and decline treadmill trotting produce electromyographic changes in specific canine shoulder muscle activity: implications for therapeutic exercise.

Graded treadmill inclines and declines progressively load supraspinatus, deltoideus, and triceps, supporting targeted canine forelimb rehabilitation.

This prospective, within-subject repeated-measures study investigated the effects of incline and decline treadmill trotting on forelimb muscle activity in 12 adult large-breed dogs using surface and fine-wire electromyography (EMG). Muscles evaluated included the supraspinatus (fine-wire EMG), scapular portion of the deltoideus, lateral head of the triceps brachii, and biceps brachii (surface EMG), assessed bilaterally during level (0%), 5% incline, 10% incline, 5% decline, and 10% decline treadmill trotting. Key findings demonstrated that peak supraspinatus activity increased significantly with progressive incline grades (6.5% from 0% to 5%, and an additional 5.7% from 5% to 10%). Average triceps brachii activity increased by 17.9% from level to 10% incline and showed significant changes during decline conditions as well. Peak triceps and average deltoideus activity followed similar trends, suggesting these muscles are progressively recruited with increasing treadmill grade in both incline and decline conditions. Notably, biceps brachii activity showed no significant changes across any condition tested. These findings provide objective electromyographic evidence supporting the clinical use of graded treadmill inclinations and declinations as a tool to selectively and progressively load specific shoulder and forelimb musculature in canine rehabilitation programs, particularly for conditions affecting the supraspinatus, deltoideus, or triceps. The study supports an incremental, condition-specific approach to therapeutic exercise prescription in veterinary rehabilitation.

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