Dog Walk: An exercise intervention study with public housing residents

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Dog Walk An exercise intervention study with
public housing residents

• Rebecca A. Johnson, Ph.D., RN
• Director,
• Research Center on Human Animal Interaction
• Charlotte McKenney, RN, BSN
• Graduate Student
• Richard Meadows, DVM
• MU College of Veterinary Medicine
• MU Sinclair School of Nursing
• University of Missouri-Columbia
• Columbia, MO

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UMC VMTH


Research Center on Human Animal Interaction
(ReCHAI)
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Physical benefits of pet ownership
"If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough
exercise." Unknown
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Basis of the Study

• Walking is easy, affordable.
• Activity helps maintain independence.
• Dogs used as motivation in AAT, and for walking
  own dog.
• No study of AAA involving walking a dog not owned
  by the walker.

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Research Questions

• To what extent will a 26-week or 50-week walking
  program improve participants
• Weight?
• Lipid profile?
• Bone Mineral Density?

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• What benefits if any, will participants
  describe?

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Sample

• Reside in one of 2 public housing facilities
  (N26)
• Age 40 or older
• Able to walk (with or without cane or walker)
• Approved by their primary care provider to
  participate
• Not dog-aversive

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Method

• One-group pre-test post-test design
• Walked with trained visitor dog handler
  graduating from 10 mins. 3 days a week to 20
  mins. Mon.-Fri.
• 26-week or 50-week program
• Dependent measures every 12 weeks and at end of
  program

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Procedure

• Step 1 after eligibility and consent
• We bought walking shoes

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Pre-testing measured bone density
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blood pressure, height weight
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cholesterol tri-glycerides
assessed standing balance
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Vision
and mood
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Our Walking Dogs

• Trained, certified health checked through the
  CVMs PALS program
• Experienced visitors (go to hospitals, schools,
  nursing homes)
• Friendly, loving, gentle companions

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Walking Procedure

• Daily walking time set
• Participants came to office
• Walked with dog handler
• Weight, BP P recorded weekly
• Handlers timed walk calculated distance
• Handlers noted comments daily

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Demographics
Site 1(50 wk) Site 2(26 wk)
Gender 6 M, 7 F 6 M, 7 F
Race 1 AA, 12 Cauc 2 AA, 11 Cauc
Age 40-80 (X51) 53-82 (X59)
Distance Walked 668 mi 300 hrs 467 mi 193 hrs
Adherence 72 52
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Weight Body Mass Index
Site 1(50 wk) Site 2(26 wk)
Wt. Loss 1-44 (X14.4) 1-5 (X5)
SD56 p 0.013 SD57 p 0.29
BMI X - 1.90 SD2.71 p0.021 X 0.77 SD 2.69 p0.91
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BMD Cholesterol
Site 1(50 wk) Site 2(26 wk)
Bone Mineral Density (hip) X0.009 SD0.04 p0.53 X0.01 SD0.02 p0.37
Cholesterol X -11 SD23 p0.13 X -3 SD 20 p0.66
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Function and Mood

• No significant differences in mood
• Participants reported feeling better, increased
  their walking time
• One participant became free of her electric
  scooter for mobility

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Perceived Benefits 1

• The dogs need us to walk themthey count on us
• The dogs make me a better person
• I think hanging out with the dogs has improved
  my mental state. I always feel better when I
  spend time with the dogs.

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Perceived Benefits 2

• Ive had less of a problem with shooting pains
  in my legs since I got these shoes and started
  walking.
• I have a headache today, I hope coming
  downstairs and walking with the dog will help me
  feel better.. I am so glad that I came down, you
  have cheered me right up!

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Discussion

• Commitment to walking a dog may be a proxy for
  commitment to an exercise regimen
• Mood measure time frame
• Nutrition not addressed

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ReCHAIsNewest program
Collaborators Columbia Parks Rec. Dept,
Central Missouri Humane Society Columbia Second
Chance MO Dept of Health Senior Services
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Purpose

• US high obesity rates
• Walking is a beneficial activity
• Lubbock, TX Indianapolis, IN
• Walking increased
• Shelter dog adoptions increased

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Procedure

• Those interested call Parks Rec to register
• Choose a 4-week session (WAH goes from 4/21-8/4)
• Choose a time slot (9, 10 or 11 AM)
• Go to CMHS Shelter
• We provide t-shirts, water, nutrition information
  and a warm-up

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• Choose a dog from those identified by CMHS as
  good walkers
• Walk on the trail nearby
• Weekly measurements
• Blood pressure
• Weight
• Pretests Post-tests
• Exercise patterns
• Mood
• Social Support

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• And now, your questions..