Fall and are less fear: walking dogs is good for the health of the elderly

Regularly strolling with dogs, at least four times a week, it is associated with improving mobility, reducing fear of falling and less likely to falls in the elderly.

As falls They are the most frequent reason why the elderly are hospitalized and the most common cause of accidental death in adulthood.

Following these accidents, it is very common for the elderly to break the hip, lose independence, increase the need for health care and even die early.

The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (Tilda), based in the Trinity College, shows that 1 out of 8 elderly Irish visits emergencies annually following a fall. With increasing longevity, the number of elderly people suffering from these accidents will increase considerably in the coming decades, so it is imperative to identify strategies that reduce the risk.

According to, the new study revealed significant benefits of regularly stroll with dogsa strategy that, in addition to improving the mobility of the elderly, contributes to reducing the fear of falling and reducing the likelihood of unexpected falls.

The elderly who walked the dogs at least four times a week 40% less likely to suffer falls. In addition, they also had a 20% decrease in the likelihood of being afraid of falling, a factor that contributes to the reduction of quality of life.

The investigation underlines the role of this activity with animals in promoting physical activity and social interaction, essential details to maintain independence in adulthood.

Robert Briggs, St James’s geriatrician and Trinity College, added that the benefits of walking with dogs are not just physical. “We have to highlight physical activity, but it is also likely that the increase in social interaction, companionship and purpose Derivatives of having a dog also play an important role, ”he said.

O was published, on January 11, in the Journals of Gerontology.