ORIGINAL PAPER
Acute effects of a dog sport on fitness parameters in young adults: a randomised controlled crossover study
1
Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
2
Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
3
Zooprophylactic Experimental Institute of Sicily, Palermo, Italy
4
School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Anatomy, Histology and Movement Science Section, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
5
German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, Saarbrucken, Germany
6
Department of Physical Activity and Sport, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Murcia, Santiago de la Ribera, Murcia, Spain
7
Regional Sports School of Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) Sicilia, Palermo, Italy
Submission date: 2024-07-05
Acceptance date: 2024-12-04
Publication date: 2024-12-23
Corresponding author
Ignazio Leale
Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Hum Mov. 2024;25(4):138-146
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
Previous studies have shown that dog walking could be an effective strategy for increasing physical activity (PA). However, no studies have investigated the impact of dog sports on fitness parameters. This pilot study aimed (a) to evaluate the acute effects of a dog agility course on fitness parameters in young adults and (b) to determine any acute differences after the execution of the dog agility course with and without the dog.
Methods:
In this randomised crossover study, ten physically active young women performed a dog agility course in two different conditions (i.e., with and without the dog). Fitness parameters were recorded using a smartwatch before the dog agility course (T0), immediately after (T1), and 10 minutes after the cool-down phase (T2). Moreover, the subjective level of perceived exertion during exercise was assessed using the Borg category-ratio scale (Borg CR-10).
Results:
Results showed significant differences in the number of steps (p = 0.011), walking time (p = 0.006), average heart rate (HR) (p = 0.004), maximum HR (p = 0.003), and perceived exertion (p = 0.007) between the two conditions at T1. Furthermore, significant differences were found for both the average HR and the perceived exertion parameters for both conditions in the three time points (T0, T1, T2).
Conclusions:
Our preliminary results suggest that practising a dog sport could be as effective as other sports and induce several health benefits.
Previous studies have shown that dog walking could be an effective strategy for increasing physical activity (PA). However, no studies have investigated the impact of dog sports on fitness parameters. This pilot study aimed (a) to evaluate the acute effects of a dog agility course on fitness parameters in young adults and (b) to determine any acute differences after the execution of the dog agility course with and without the dog.
Methods:
In this randomised crossover study, ten physically active young women performed a dog agility course in two different conditions (i.e., with and without the dog). Fitness parameters were recorded using a smartwatch before the dog agility course (T0), immediately after (T1), and 10 minutes after the cool-down phase (T2). Moreover, the subjective level of perceived exertion during exercise was assessed using the Borg category-ratio scale (Borg CR-10).
Results:
Results showed significant differences in the number of steps (p = 0.011), walking time (p = 0.006), average heart rate (HR) (p = 0.004), maximum HR (p = 0.003), and perceived exertion (p = 0.007) between the two conditions at T1. Furthermore, significant differences were found for both the average HR and the perceived exertion parameters for both conditions in the three time points (T0, T1, T2).
Conclusions:
Our preliminary results suggest that practising a dog sport could be as effective as other sports and induce several health benefits.
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