156. Spending time with a dog can decrease physical pain
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Spending time with dogs has been shown to have numerous health benefits. But a new study published in the journal PLOS One shows that dogs can influence how we experience physical pain. Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan had over 200 emergency room patients rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10. The patients who were then allowed to spend 10 minutes with a treatment dog reported less pain than control patients who didn’t get time with a dog. These results are not surprising considering that dogs can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness in humans and improve their owner’s overall health.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
