Walking dogs is sending older people to the ER, study says

An injury from this simple activity can result in life-altering circumstances -- and such accidents are increasing, according to a study published in the medical journal JAMA Surgery.

The study looked at patients who made visits to hospital emergency departments throughout the United States from 2004 to 2017, using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. From 2004 to 2017, researchers estimated there were more than 32,000 emergency room cases of fractures associated with walking leashed dogs among people 65 and older. Cases increased from an estimated 1,671 ER visits in 2004 to 4,396 in 2017.

Medical workers should be identifying at-risk patients when giving exercise recommendations to older patients, the University Pennsylvania researchers said.

There are many reasons why older populations may already be more prone to fractures, such as reduced bone mass as patients age, and increased fall frequency. Older women who owned dogs in need of walking were especially at risk of associated injury. Being female is already a risk factor for fractures and bone disease, such as osteoporosis. Since 78.6% of fractures in the study occurred in women, "older women considering dog ownership must be made aware of this risk," the University Pennsylvania researchers wrote.

The study authors noted there could be limitations to the study. Although the results were statistically significant, the study only looked at patients who went to an emergency department. They also state that their study excluded injuries that were less severe and not fractures.

"For older adults -- especially those living alone and with decreased bone mineral density -- the risks associated with walking leashed dogs merit consideration," the authors wrote. "Even one such injury could result in a potentially lethal hip fracture, lifelong complications, or loss of independence."

The researchers suggest clinicians work with patients who use dog walking as exercise to reduce the risk of injury. That could including training dogs not to lunge when leashed and suggesting smaller breeds of dogs.

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