There’s no doubt our dogs mean the world to us, they provide emotional support and have a positive impact on mental health as well as helping in reducing social isolation and making us more active. In the UK almost 1/3 of the population are dog owners.
So, no wonder that many of my patients come to the clinic with “dog-walking” related injuries.
Walking the dog as you may have experienced is more than …just a walk. Depending on the owner and the dog age this can become a quite active work out or a constant stop and go and slow walk.
Common Issues Dog Walkers Face
- Low back pain and stiffness
Constant bending to pick up leashes, toys, or your pet can strain your lumbar spine. - Shoulder and neck tension
Throwing balls, tug-of-war, or managing a strong, pulling dog can overload the shoulders. - Knee and hip strain
Especially if walking uneven terrain or navigating curbs, steps, or hills. - Grip and forearm fatigue
Holding leashes, especially when your dog pulls, can cause strain in the forearms and wrists. - Balance and posture issues
Lifting pets (especially heavier dogs) without using proper technique can affect posture or lead to injury.
How Physiotherapy Can Help
- Assessment & personalised plan
A physio can assess movement patterns, posture, strength and flexibility. They can tailor a plan specifically for you as a dog walker – not just “generic back pain exercises.” - Strengthening & conditioning
Targeted exercises can build core, leg and shoulder strength to better cope with lifting, bending and walking. - Flexibility & mobility work
Stretching, joint mobilisations and mobility drills help reduce stiffness and improve range of motion, making bending and lifting safer. - Education on lifting technique
Physiotherapists can teach you how to lift your dog (or other equipment) safely to minimise risk – just like they would for lifting anything else in everyday life. - Injury prevention strategies
They can advise on how to prevent overuse injuries, how to warm up before long walks and how to pace yourself better. - Recovery support
If you’ve already got aches or have suffered a minor injury, physio can help with pain-relieving modalities (e.g., soft tissue work, manual therapy) and design safe rehab exercises.
Dog walking exercises
In the colder months, when we are more wrapped up our movements are not that fluid. Many of the problems we see are shoulder and lower back pain, with no surprise.
So, why don’t we spend a few minutes before going out with our good friend and get our body ready to react to sudden pulls, sudden change of directions,(reducing the danger of falling) and to repetitive movements.
Here are some exercises for you, give it a try, remember our body parts are all connected, so start from the neck.