Highbar Physical therapy & Health blog
2 Min Read
In any year over 50,000 people will sustain a dog-related injury and those over 65 years old are at the most risk for hurting themselves when out for a walk with their dog. Who would have thought that man's best friend could cause so much trouble?
Whenever our four-legged friends get outside, they go wild. And sometimes in both your hurry to get in a quick walk before dinner and their excitement to run out the front door, you may not think of all the broken wrists and elbows, or even the thousands of hip fractures that are caused each year.
Here are some of the most common dog walking injuries and our tips on keeping you on your feet and injury-free.
Shepherd’s Strain
The shepherd's strain is one of the most common injuries that occur when your dog pulls on their leash. If your dog yanks their leash too hard while your arm is outstretched, it can be painful or even cause a shoulder dislocation and sprained wrist. Long term effects can even lead to tendon and ligament damage. The best way to prevent the shepherd's strain is to use a short leash and hold your arm tucked into your side so your dog can walk next to you, rather than walk you.
Tail Wagger Wrist
Tail wagger wrist is a fracture or dislocation of the wrist due to wrapping your wrists and fingers around your dog's leash or tucking them under their collar. To help prevent these fractures, never stuck your fingers under their collars on a wall, and keep the leash loose in your hand rather than wrapped in your fingers. If you're walking 2 dogs, use a double leash to avoid a tangle.
Another thing to be cautious of while walking your dog is to never tie their leash around your body, bike, or anything else that moves. Your dogs can get wrapped up in your wheels, trip you, and the next thing you know you're face down on the sidewalk with a broken wrist, scraped knee, or sprained ankle.
These experiences happen to the best of us. But, by staying alert, like keeping off your phone and enjoying the outdoors, you can better prepare yourself for those unexpected moments, so you have no reason to end up with a dog walking injury this season.
