Where are the Quads?

So we’ve had a look at the Gluteals and the Hamstrings now we’re going to take a look at the Quadriceps muscle the last big muscle group of the hindlimbs.

Unlike in humans the quads in our dogs and horse's are set deeper than in humans, meaning that it’s often hard to assess their true muscle mass. This is particularly important if your pet has stifle issues as the quad and stifle are directly linked as you’ll see in a moment!

So in the horse:

Rectus Femoris- From the shaft of the ilium cranial to the acetabulum to the tibia via the intermediate patella ligament.

Vastus Lateralis- From the proximolateral femur to the tibia via the intermediate patella ligament.

Vastus Medialis- From the proximomedial femur to the tibia via the intermediate patella ligament.

Vastus Intermedius- From the proximodorsal femur to the tibia via the intermediate patella ligament.

In the dog:

Rectus Femoris- From the caudal ventral iliac spine to the tibial tuberosity via the patella ligament.

Vastus Lateralis- Craniolateral femur to the tibial tuberosity via the patella ligament.

Vastus Intermedius- Craniomedial femur to the patella sesamoid bone in the tendon of the quads.

Vastus Medius- Craniomedial femur to the patella sesamoid bone in the tendon of the quads.

All parts of the quad extend and stabilise the stifle but the Rectus Femoris also flexes the hip. So now you can see why if your pet has a stifle issue knowing your way around their quad is going to be key to you monitoring their progress and spotting any signs of reinjury early.

Worried your pets need more quad strength and stifle ROM to boost their stride length and hindlimb power? Book a session with us here or download our fitness Ebook or recent conditioning webinars in our online shop.

As always any questions send them over to zoehindle@googlemail.com