Dog Leash Around the Wrist: Why It Raises Fall and Fracture Risk for Older Walkers

Dog Walking Falls in Older Adults: Don't Wrap the Leash Around Your Wrist

Key takeaways

• More than one in four U.S. adults age 65 and older reported a fall in a recent national survey—about 14 million people in 2020.[1]
• Dog walking helps many people stay active, but walking a leashed dog is also linked to serious injuries. A JAMA Surgery analysis estimated 32,624 fracture visits in U.S. emergency departments among adults 65+ tied to walking leashed dogs from 2004 through 2017, and yearly cases rose over that period.[2]
• In that study, women accounted for most fractures (78.6%). The upper extremity was the most common region fractured overall (52.1%); the wrist alone was 13.7%, and the hip was the single most common site (17.3%). Nearly 3 in 10 were admitted.[2]
• Hand and wrist surgeons at a major U.S. medical center advise: do not wrap the leash around your fingers or wrist. Hold it in your palm so you can release or loosen your grip if the dog lunges.[3]
• If you fall and are hurt or cannot get up, call 911. Step-by-step: what to do after a fall.[5]

Watch: keep the leash off your wrist

YearsOk short video (English): Don't Wrap the Dog Leash Around Your Wrist | Safety Tip for Adults 55+ (Pink Spills channel, Public YouTube embed).

Watch on YouTube: Don't Wrap the Dog Leash Around Your Wrist.

Why this matters for older adults and families

Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury death among adults 65 and older in the United States.[1] Pets bring companionship and reasons to walk—but they can also create sudden pulls, trips, and tangled lines.

CDC analyzed U.S. emergency department data for 2001–2006 and estimated about 86,629 fall injuries a year linked to dogs and cats. Nearly 88% involved dogs. Among dog-related falls, 26% happened while people were walking the dog; common circumstances included tripping over the dog and being pushed or pulled by the dog.[4]

A later JAMA Surgery study focused on fractures in adults 65 and older while walking leashed dogs (NEISS, 2004–2017). National estimates rose from 1,671 cases in 2004 to 4,396 in 2017. Hip fractures were the most frequent single site; upper-limb fractures (including wrist, hand, and finger) made up more than half of all fracture locations studied.[2]

Dog walking is still exercise. The point is not to stop walking—it is to cut the ways a sudden yank turns into a broken wrist, hip, or hospital stay.

The wrist trap: why looping the leash feels safe but isn't

Looping the handle around the wrist or fingers feels like a "secure" grip. Hand surgeons warn it does the opposite when a dog bolts.

Rush University Medical Center hand surgeons Mark Cohen, MD, and John Fernandez, MD, explain that if the dog takes off, you often cannot unwrap in time. The leash can twist the wrist or fingers hard enough to separate bone fragments and injure cartilage, ligaments, or tendons. Recovery may take months; some injuries need surgery.[3]

Their practical hold:[3]

• Keep the loop in your palm, like holding a golf club or bat—not wound around the wrist or fingers.
• Stay ready to tighten or loosen (or let go) if you feel a pull start.
• Do not put fingers under the collar when clipping the leash or separating dogs—another common twisting injury pattern.[3]
• Prefer a shorter leash while moving; long lines build more force before they snap taut and are easier to trip on.[3]

CDC's earlier pet-fall report also urged obedience training so dogs are less likely to push or pull people off balance, alongside public awareness that walking and chasing pets can lead to falls.[4] The JAMA Surgery authors similarly suggested clinicians discuss training so dogs do not lunge on leash and, for some people considering a new dog, smaller breeds that are easier to control.[2]

Safer dog-walking checklist for older adults

Use this as a conversation list with your parent or your own walk routine—not as a substitute for medical advice.

Before you go

• Sturdy, closed shoes with good tread
• Phone charged; someone knows your route if you walk alone
• Leash length you can control; retractable long lines only where you can keep the dog close when needed[3]
• Dog has had recent training or a refresher on loose-leash walking[2][4]

On the walk

• Leash held in the palm—not wrapped around wrist or fingers[3]
• Dog beside you, not far ahead on a taut long line[3]
• Eyes up: squirrels, other dogs, ice, and curb cuts
• No texting while the dog is on a loose lead[3]

If balance or strength is already a concern

• Talk with a clinician about fall risk (medicines, vision, bone health).[1]
• Consider walking with a partner, or using a professional walker for a strong puller.
• Build leg and balance strength with a provider-approved plan—see our fall risk assessment and chair-strength course below.

Bathroom and home setup still matter for overall fall risk—see grab bars and bathroom safety.

If you fall while walking the dog

Falls can cause wrist, arm, hip, and head injuries.[1][2] Do not rush to stand if you are hurt.

1. Stay still a moment and check for pain or dizziness.
2. If you are hurt or cannot get up, call 911 (or ask a passerby for help).
3. If you hit your head, get medical care promptly—especially if you take a blood thinner.
4. Tell your doctor about the fall even if you feel fine afterward—falling once raises the chance of falling again.[1]

Full step-by-step from our emergencies hub: What to do after a fall.[5]

FAQ

Is wrapping the leash around my wrist safer so I don't drop it? No. U.S. hand surgeons advise against wrapping a leash around the wrist or fingers because a sudden pull can fracture or twist soft tissue before you can unwrap.[3] Hold the handle in your palm instead.

Are dog-walking fractures common in older adults? They are uncommon relative to all falls, but the burden is real and was rising in national ED estimates through 2017. One study estimated thousands of fracture visits a year among adults 65+ linked to walking leashed dogs, with many wrist, hand, finger, and hip injuries.[2]

Who gets hurt most? In the JAMA Surgery leash-walking fracture study, about four in five patients were women.[2] CDC's broader pet-fall analysis also found higher rates in females.[4]

Should older adults stop walking dogs? Not automatically. Walking supports activity. Reduce risk with training, a controllable leash hold, awareness of pulls and trips, and a frank talk with a clinician if balance, bone density, or medicines already raise fall risk.[1][2][4]

What if my dog is strong and I live alone? Ask your clinician or a physical therapist about fall risk. Consider a second walker, a shorter leash and harness setup your trainer recommends, or limiting walks to times when help is nearby.

Sources

1. Kakara R, Bergen G, Burns E, Stevens M. Nonfatal and Fatal Falls Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — United States, 2020–2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72(35):938-943. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7235a1.htm. Accessed October 31, 2026.
2. Pirruccio K, Yoon YM, Ahn J. Fractures in Elderly Americans Associated With Walking Leashed Dogs. JAMA Surg. 2019;154(5):458-459. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2019.0061. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2727125. Accessed October 31, 2026.
3. Germany J. Preventing Dog Walking Injuries. Rush University Medical Center. https://www.rush.edu/news/preventing-dog-walking-injuries. Accessed October 31, 2026.
4. Stevens JA, Teh SL, Haileyesus T. Nonfatal Fall-Related Injuries Associated with Dogs and Cats — United States, 2001–2006. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009;58(11):277-281. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5811a1.htm. Accessed October 31, 2026.
5. National Institute on Aging. Falls and Fractures in Older Adults: Causes and Prevention. NIH/NIA. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/falls-and-falls-prevention/falls-and-fractures-older-adults-causes-and-prevention. Accessed October 31, 2026.

Related

• Grab bars and bathroom safety
• What to do after a fall
• Fall risk assessment
• Home safety checklist for seniors
• Balance exercises for seniors

Disclaimer

This article is for general education only and is not medical, legal, or financial advice. Talk to your doctor or a licensed clinician about your fall risk, bone health, and whether dog walking is safe for you. In an emergency, call 911.

Attribution

Portions of this page are adapted from "HowToLiveBetter" (高性价比人生指南) by eternity4719, https://github.com/eternity4719/HowToLiveBetter, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Changes: topic idea (home fall prevention and everyday injury avoidance) adapted; rewritten for the U.S. context around dog-leash walking injuries and re-sourced to U.S. research and official guidance. Not a direct translation.