Page 118 - Canine Lameness

90 6 The Myofascial Examination

with a comorbid issue(s). In primary MPS, the localization of pain and dysfunction causing lame-
ness will not be properly identified without a myofascial examination. As such, the diagnosis may
be missed and appropriate treatment may not be initiated. Secondary MPS is highly prevalent in
both people and dogs affected by any orthopedic condition or recovering from orthopedic and/or
neurologic surgeries as described above.
Many treatment options for MPS have been described (Gerwin 2016). For example, treatment
with dry needling has been shown to benefit patients with secondary MPS (Janssens 1991; Espejo‐
Antunez et al. 2017). It has also been successfully used to improve comfort after total knee arthro-
plasty in people (Mayoral et al. 2013). While there is still some controversy about the use in
veterinary medicine, a better understanding of the patterns of myalgia and dysfunction associated
secondary MPS may assist in localization of the primary issue as well as identification of additional
areas for therapeutic intervention.
It is important to understand that common imaging modalities (radiography as well as standard
ultrasound) are unable to diagnose MTPs. This in turn may place fault with a lesion that is not the
real etiology (but can be identified with these diagnostic means).

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