Original scientific paper
Regular Dog-Walking Improves Physical Capacity in Elderly Patients after Myocardial Infarction
Alen Ružić
Bojan Miletić
Tatjana Ružić
Viktor Peršić
Gordana Laškarin
Abstract
Various positive effects of pet ownership on cardiovascular health are well known. The aim of this prospective and
controlled longitudinal study was to determine the effects of everyday dog-walking on physical capacity in elderly patients
during the first year after myocardial infarction. Regularly dog-walking for at least 15 minutes three times a day
is related to significantly higher work load on the bicycle exercise test (72.5 ± 10.75 versus 67.6 ± 11.6 W, p<0.05) in the
»dog-walking« group (N=29, mean age 72.5 years) at 12 months compared to the control group (N=30, mean age 71.7
years). Our results suggest that dogs may help to maintain continuous physical activity in elderly cardiovascular patients
promoting their physical capacity. Further researches are needed to confirm this association as well to identify
other possible influences of dog ownership on the cardiovascular health and on the outcome in patients after myocardial
infarction.
Keywords
elderly; dog-walking; animal-assisted therapy; physical capacity; myocardial infarction
Hrčak ID:
72231
URI
Publication date:
25.9.2011.
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