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Updated: May 23, 2026

Walk with Me Hybrid Virtual/In-Person Walking for Older Adults with Neurodegenerative Disease
Published on: June 16, 2023
[Benefits of dog walking in cardiovascular rehabilitation]
Fabrice Vultaggio1, Frédéric Sittarame2, Elena Tessitore2
1Service des urgences, Département de médecine aiguë, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, 1211 Genève 14.
Abstract:
Dog walking is emerging as a potential intervention in cardiovascular health. Meta-analyses and cohort studies suggest an association between dog walking and reduced cardiovascular mortality in patients with established diseases. Beyond physical activity, human-animal interactions favorably influence stress regulation, neuroendocrine balance, exercise motivation, and social connectedness. These synergistic mechanisms remain incompletely quantified, relying on observational associations. Dog walking represents a relevant, low-cost, and sustainable complement to conventional phase III cardiovascular rehabilitation strategies. This review synthesizes the available evidence and discusses its clinical implications in secondary prevention.
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