Walking Your Dog Is Good Medicine
Daily walks keep best furry buddy happy — and your joints, too.
By Terrie Heinrich Rizzo | Updated Oct. 31, 2024
Any dog owner knows that take-me-for-a-walk look: puppy eyes pleading, head tilting, an “oh, please” woof and tail thumping. You probably think you’re doing Fido a favor when you give in and take him for a stroll. Turns out, he may be doing you the favor. Walking has many benefits for people living with arthritis.
Eager canine companions virtually guarantee that their humans walk daily, even when you’re tempted to stay home because of flares, lousy weather or plain old laziness. Walking a dog doesn’t require extra expense, special clothes or going to a gym, and dogs aren’t interested in breaking the routine by taking a day off or going on vacation. Consistency, such as sticking to daily walks, is key when it comes to gaining the benefits of exercise.
Research has shown that people who have dogs tend to be more physically active than those who don’t. Numerous studies have shown benefits of increased physical activity from dog walking, from potentially reducing anxiety to easing the impacts of COPD to an association with lower rates of cardiovascular disease. One small study found that people who had a dog walked more often and lost as much as 14 pounds in a year. That is particularly good news for people with arthritis, because research also has shown that for every one pound lost reduces pressure on weight-bearing joints by four pounds.
When it comes to selecting a furry friend, you may want to avoid very large or active breeds unless they are properly trained not to pull, jump or otherwise put your joints at risk. Consider adopting a calm, middle-aged or senior dog from a shelter, where staff have already vetted its temperament. And look for leashes and other devices that help deter your pup from pulling or lunging.
Any dog owner knows that take-me-for-a-walk look: puppy eyes pleading, head tilting, an “oh, please” woof and tail thumping. You probably think you’re doing Fido a favor when you give in and take him for a stroll. Turns out, he may be doing you the favor. Walking has many benefits for people living with arthritis.
Eager canine companions virtually guarantee that their humans walk daily, even when you’re tempted to stay home because of flares, lousy weather or plain old laziness. Walking a dog doesn’t require extra expense, special clothes or going to a gym, and dogs aren’t interested in breaking the routine by taking a day off or going on vacation. Consistency, such as sticking to daily walks, is key when it comes to gaining the benefits of exercise.Research has shown that people who have dogs tend to be more physically active than those who don’t. Numerous studies have shown benefits of increased physical activity from dog walking, from potentially reducing anxiety to easing the impacts of COPD to an association with lower rates of cardiovascular disease. One small study found that people who had a dog walked more often and lost as much as 14 pounds in a year. That is particularly good news for people with arthritis, because research also has shown that for every one pound lost reduces pressure on weight-bearing joints by four pounds.
When it comes to selecting a furry friend, you may want to avoid very large or active breeds unless they are properly trained not to pull, jump or otherwise put your joints at risk. Consider adopting a calm, middle-aged or senior dog from a shelter, where staff have already vetted its temperament. And look for leashes and other devices that help deter your pup from pulling or lunging.
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