|
News Releases
A New "Leash" on Exercise
Columbia, Mo. (Mar. 28, 2007) Would you exercise more if you had a partner to encourage you? That partner could be standing next to you right now. No, it's not your personal trainer; it's your dog.
In fact, owning a dog may encourage you to exercise. Think about it - your dog needs to be walked. Well, walking is one of the best recommended daily exercises for people with arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Not only will walking strengthen your muscles and increase flexibility, but walking will also help control your weight.
Roland Thorpe, Jr., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine recently conducted a study to determine if owning a dog improves one's health. The study found that dog-owners typically got more physical activity than those who did not own a dog. "Pet ownership among older adults is associated with a variety of health benefits including greater physical activity and less disability," says Thorpe. "Caring for a dog encourages physical activity such as walking or jogging. However, the key is that if you own a dog you must walk the dog! Ownership per se does not guarantee any health benefits."
Dog-ownership promotes walking - an activity you may not do otherwise. And, walking your dog doesn't mean walking a certain distance or walking at any certain pace. Just do what feels right to you. Dogs are great walking companions and great personal trainers.
By walking your dog, you are improving your own health and improving your dog's health, too. Walking your dog is the best way to exercise a dog that may not move about much in your home or even in your yard. "Daily walking burns calories which help prevent obesity," says Craig Datz, DVM, clinical assistant professor, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia. "Dogs have the opportunity to socialize with other animals and people in neutral territory, instead of barking and feeling isolated when confined behind a fence. Dogs also need environmental exploration and sensory stimulation to reduce boredom and anxiety. Regular walks in the neighborhood or on trails (where dogs are allowed!) are important for dogs' physical and mental health."
No matter what breed of dog you own, take your dog for a walk to improve your health - and your dog's health, too. After a few walks, both you and your dog will be panting for another.
The Missouri Arthritis Research Rehabilitation and Training Center (MARRTC) was established in 1971 at the University of Missouri-Columbia Arthritis Center. MARRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (H133B031120) and is the only federally funded arthritis rehabilitation research and training center in the country.
As part of the MU Health Communication Research Center (HCRC), MARRTC's mission is to become a national leader in the areas of disability management and communication, improve the quality of life and promote independent living among people who have arthritis and arthritic conditions. MARRTC's core message is "Disability is everyone's issue."
|
|
