Regular dog walking has been shown to improve mobility and reduce falls in older adults

New research from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin has revealed the significant benefits of regular dog walking for older adults. The study is published in the Journals of Gerontology.

To date, there has been little research to suggest that dog walking can protect against falls and mobility problems later in life. This study assessed whether regular dog walking was associated with a reduced risk of falls, fear of falling and mobility problems in a large cohort of community-dwelling elderly people.

Falls are the most common reason that older people are hospitalized and the most common cause of accidental death later in life. Falls are strongly associated with fractures, including hip fractures, subsequent loss of independence, increased health care use, nursing home admissions, and earlier mortality.

TILDA data shows that around 30% of people aged 70 and over in Ireland fall each year, with 1 in 8 presenting to the emergency department each year. Due to longer lifespans, the number of elderly people who fall will increase significantly in the coming decades. It is therefore imperative that we identify strategies that reduce the risk of falls and that can be implemented at a population level.

Study methods include:

• Participants aged ≥60 years at wave 5 of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging were included. Regular dog walking was ≥4 days/week by self-report.
• The control group consisted of participants who did not have a dog or dog owners who did not walk their dogs regularly.
• Falls and fear of falling were based on self-report. Mobility was measured with Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG).
• Logistic regression models assessed the associations between regular dog walking and outcomes of interest.
• The study analyzed data from more than 4,100 participants aged 60 and over, using TILDA Wave 5 data.

Key findings include:

• Improved mobility: Regular dog walkers completed the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test significantly faster than non-dog walkers (10.3 seconds vs. 11.7 seconds on average). The TUG is a sensitive and specific measure of the risk of falls in the elderly
• Fewer falls: Regular dog walkers were 40% less likely to experience unexplained falls.
• Lower fear of falling: Participants who regularly walked their dog were 20% less likely to report fear of falling, a known factor in mobility avoidance and reduced quality of life.

The study highlights the potential role of dog walking in promoting physical activity and social interaction, both of which are crucial for maintaining independence in later life. Importantly, although physical activity levels between dog walkers and non-walkers were broadly similar, the specific activity of walking a dog appears to provide unique benefits.

The study also highlights the importance of promoting activities that are both enjoyable and health-promoting as we age.

Professor Robert Briggs, consultant geriatrician, St James’s Hospital and Trinity College, and co-author, said: “This study shows the potential benefits that regular dog walking can bring to older people. Regular dog walkers had significantly better mobility and reduced the risk of fall and were less likely to develop a fear of falling.

“While this may be partly due to increased physical activity, it is also likely that the increased social interaction, companionship and purpose that comes from having a dog also plays an important role. We see how important pets are in the lives of older people we encounter both at St James’s Hospital and the TILDA study and it is therefore encouraging to see the benefits emerging from this study.”

Lead author Dr. Eleanor Gallagher, Specialist Registrar in Geriatric Medicine (formerly Trinity College Dublin, now Letterkenny Hospital), said: “Our findings highlight the value of regular dog walking as a simple and accessible activity that not only improves physical health, but also has mental health benefits. well-being and self-esteem of older adults.”