Demeco Andrea, Pinotti Laura, de Sire Alessandro, Marotta Nicola, Salerno Antonello, Iona Teresa, Frizziero Antonio, Scaturro Dalila, Mauro Giulia Letizia, Longo Umile Giuseppe, Ammendolia Antonio, Costantino Cosimo
Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Research Center on Musculoskeletal Health, MusculoSkeletalHealth@UMG, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2025 Jul 12;10(3):263. doi: 10.3390/jfmk10030263.
: 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. : 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. : Among 389 participants, the most represented age group ranged between 30 and 40 years old. Overall, 7% reported upper limb injuries, while 27% experienced at least one lower limb injury. Additionally, 20% of participants used medication, and 25% reported at least one chronic illness. On average, handlers trained twice per week and competed in two events per month. Lower limb injuries were predominantly muscular (49%) or ligamentous (14%) and most commonly occurred on grass pitches (56%). These injuries were more common in participants with a higher BMI, those using dynamic handling styles, and those competing at higher levels. : This cross-sectional study highlighted the importance of identifying risk factors associated with dog agility handlers. Lower limb injuries were the most common, often associated with increased physical demands and handling styles involving intensive running and correlated with reduced physical fitness. Athletic conditioning, including structured warm-up and cool-down practices, might help decline injury risks.
犬敏捷运动是一项迅速发展的运动，涉及犬与训导员之间的合作，要跑过一个障碍赛道。尽管其越来越受欢迎且对身体有益，但关于训导员受伤情况的研究仍然有限。本研究旨在评估从事犬敏捷运动的运动员的损伤流行病学情况。
这项横断面研究使用了一份包含124个项目的综合在线调查问卷，该问卷有英文和意大利文两种版本。问卷分为四个部分：引言部分收集人口统计学数据和病史；材料与方法部分聚焦于与敏捷运动相关的活动；结果部分探究过去12个月内遭受的损伤；讨论部分审视与敏捷运动无关的训练习惯。
在389名参与者中，最具代表性的年龄组在30至40岁之间。总体而言，7%的人报告有上肢损伤，而27%的人经历过至少一次下肢损伤。此外，20%的参与者使用药物，25%的人报告至少有一种慢性病。训导员平均每周训练两次，每月参加两项赛事。下肢损伤主要为肌肉损伤（49%）或韧带损伤（14%），最常发生在草地场地（56%）。这些损伤在体重指数较高、使用动态操控方式以及参加更高水平比赛的参与者中更为常见。
这项横断面研究凸显了识别与犬敏捷运动训导员相关风险因素的重要性。下肢损伤最为常见，通常与更高的体力需求以及涉及高强度奔跑的操控方式有关，并且与身体素质下降相关。包括有组织的热身和放松练习在内的运动体能训练，可能有助于降低受伤风险。
