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Dog Walking and Falling: New Study Evaluates the Risk

4 December 2023

Dog Walking and Falling

New Study Evaluates the Risk

Please welcome back the Wellness Path Weekly!

We put the WPW on hold this Spring to finish and publish my second book, Tai Chi for Balance.

With that out into the world (literally, Tai Chi for Balance has been purchased in eight countries so far), we're delighted to resume the WPW.

Today's WPW focuses on an area of concern to dog owners, especially older dog owners and those that care for them.

Dog Walking and Falling

In teaching Tai Chi for Balance, I listen to, and learn much from, people describing their falls.

One situation I've heard about many times involves falling while walking the dog.

The dog pulls sharply, causing a slip. The dog cuts in front, causing a trip.

Some of the falls have resulted in injuries. Cuts, bruises, sprains, even broken bones.

I've also invested hundreds of hours reviewing scientific research on older adults and falling, learning much about this major threat to healthy aging. And how to prevent falls.

But I never saw research focused on falling while walking the dog.

Until last week.

New Study— Epidemiology of Dog Walking-Related Injuries among Adults Presenting to US Emergency Departments, 2001-2020, Maxson et al.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Sep. 2023

In this unique study, a team from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins University dug into 19 years of falls data, aiming to: (1) determine characteristics of injuries associated with dog walking falls, and (2) indentify those most at risk of sustaining serious injuries while dog walking.

The researchers collected data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a database maintained by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Here's what they found:


Dog Walking Falls Result in Serious Injuries and the Risk is Increasing

Between 2001 and 2020, dog walking injuries sent approximately 423,000 adults to emergency rooms in the US.

A majority of the injuries were sustained by adults age 40 - 64 (47%) and adults age 65 and over (28%).

 Nearly 75% of the patients were female.

The three most commons injuries were: (1) fractures; (2) sprain, strains, and muscle tears, and (3) cuts and bruises.

Over 5% of the injuries were classified as traumatic brain injuries (TBI)— concussions or other head injuries.

The researchers also concluded that the annual rate of dog walking related injuries has increased sharply, up over 400% from 2001 to 2020.

Risk Factors for Dog Walking-Related Falls

The researchers identified two main risk factors for dog walking-related falls and injuries. For those of you who have read Tai Chi for Balance, this will come as no surprise.

The main risk factors are:

Age. Adults 65+ are more likely to fall, sustain a fracture, or a TBI.

Gender. Women are more likely to sustain a fracture.

How Do You Reduce the Risk of Falling While Walking the Dog?

The study did not evaluate interventions for reducing dog-walking related falls. But the researchers did share the following suggestions:

Obedience training. An investment in obedience training can reduce hazardous dog behaviors like lunging while leashed.

Leash technique. Holding the leash in the palm of the hand rather than wrapped around fingers or wrist provides greater control, and an ability to let go if necessary to avoid a fall.
Exercise. A familiar theme here— For adults 65+, engaging in exercise that strengthens the legs and hips, and improves balance and coordination, can reduce the risk of falls.

And we know what the #1 exercise for avoiding falls is, right? Tai Chi.

To read what doctors and health aging experts say about Tai Chi for Balance, click here.

That wraps this edition of WPW.

One request—

For those of you that have experienced a fall while walking your dog, please send me your story.

Just email me at info@chicagotaichi.org, or reply below

I'm considering ways to incorporate dog-walking falls avoidance in my Tai Chi for Balance program, and your experience would be immensely helpful.

Chris Cinnamon, JD, MS
Certified Exercise Physiologist
Head Instructor
Author, Tai Chi for Balance and
Tai Chi for Knee Health

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