Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Postural reaction testing - Coggle Diagram
Postural reaction testing
Anatomy and function
sense of kinaesthesia
= awareness of precise position and movements of the body, especially the limbs
Proprioreceptors
general proprioception
muscle
tendon
joints
special proprioception
inner ear
collected info transmitted to
cerebral cortex
consciously received
complex pathways which involve
afferent arc
proprioceptive receptor
peripheral sensory nerve
spinothalamic ascending pathways
contralateral somatic sensory area of the cerebral cortex (integration centre)
efferent arc
contralateral motor cortex
descending motor pathways within brainstem and spinal cord (UMN)
peripheral motor nerve (LMN)
skeletal effector muscles
entire nervous system needed to be able to perform postural reactions
testing them important for detecting subtle dysfunction and asymmetry and confirming presence of neurological disease
does not provide specific information for lesion localisation
in general, postural reactions remain normal in postsynaptic junctional and muscular diseases, as long as animal has strength to support its own body weight.
Proprioceptive placing
evaluate conscious awareness of limb position and movement in space
place paw in abnormal position and see how quickly animal corrects this
animal should be standing squarely on all 4 limbs
support majority of body weight to improve test sensitivity
Hopping reaction
preferred postural reaction in cats
should be equal response on both sides
ataxia or weakness of one limb may be detected
Placing response
mainly used when proprioceptive placing or hopping reactions do not confirm disorder
Visual
placing
can be used if menace response or obstacle course testing difficult to interpret
allow animal to see table surface and normal animals will reach for surface before paw touches the table
Tactile
placing
cover eyes of animal
animal lifted and distal part of the thoracic limb is brought into contact with the edge of a table
when the dorsal surface of paw makes contact with edge of table, animal should immediately place its foot on the surface
Wheelbarrowing
tests the thoracic limbs
highlights subtle thoracic limb weakness and ataxia
Extensor postural thrusting
tests the pelvic limbs
animal supported by the chest caudal to thoracic limbs and pelvic limbs are lowered to the floor, forcing the animal to walk backwards
highlights pelvic limb weakness and ataxia
Hemi-walking
tests the ability of animal to walk on thoracic and pelvic limbs on one side, whilst holding the animals on the other side.
animal should be pushed away from side on which its limbs are supported and the speed and coordination of movements assessed
non-slip surface