Injury, Risk and Training Habits Among Dog Agility Handlers: A Cross-Sectional Study
Andrea Demeco, Laura Pinotti, Alessandro de Sire, Nicola Marotta, Antonello Salerno, Teresa Iona, Antonio Frizziero, Dalila Scaturro, Giulia Letizia Mauro, Umile Giuseppe Longo, Antonio Ammendolia, Cosimo Costantino

TL;DR
This study examines injuries and training habits among dog agility handlers, finding that lower limb injuries are common and linked to factors like BMI and handling style.
Contribution
The study provides the first comprehensive analysis of injury patterns and risk factors in dog agility handlers.
Findings
27% of participants experienced lower limb injuries, mostly muscular or ligamentous.
Injuries were more common on grass pitches and in handlers with higher BMI or dynamic handling styles.
Handlers trained twice weekly and competed in two events monthly on average.
Abstract
Background: Dog agility is a rapidly growing sport involving a partnership between a dog and the handler, running through an obstacle course. Despite its increasing popularity and physical benefits, research on handler injuries remains limited. This study aimed to assess injury epidemiology of athletes practicing dog agility. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a comprehensive online survey consisting of 124 items, available in both English and Italian. The questionnaire was divided into four sections: Introduction collected demographic data and medical history; Materials and Methods focused on agility-related activities; Results explored injuries sustained in the past 12 months; Discussion examined training habits unrelated to agility. Results: Among 389 participants, the most represented age group ranged between 30 and 40 years old. Overall, 7% reported upper limb…
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Taxonomy
TopicsSports injuries and prevention · Shoulder Injury and Treatment · Veterinary Orthopedics and Neurology
