Ollyball Toss
Intervention Summary
Goals: Balance, Core strength, Grip strength
Patient task: Toss Ollyball to dog with hands, tennis racket, or weight dowel rod
Dog task: Hit Ollyball back to patient with nose
Scale: Positioning, resistance, surface
Equipment needed: Ollyball, racket, dowel rods
Intervention Overview
Your patient can engage in a game of Ollyball toss with your facility dog to focus on balance, visual scanning, grip strength (when using a tennis racket or weighted dowel rod), and activity tolerance. We call this one a “team sport” because our facility dog doesn’t have the best aim, so everyone needs to be ready to play… but patients love it!
Patient Instructions
Standing or sitting
Patient throws Ollyball back and forth with facility dog
Dog’s Role
Dog placed on elevated therapy mat or on floor in front of patient
Hit Ollyball back to patient with its nose
Interaction level: active
Scaling
Make it easier:
Sitting position
Use only dominant/non-involved upper extremity
Make it harder:
Add weights to wrists or use weighted dowel rod to hit balloon
Use tennis racket to hit balloon
Uneven surfaces (BOSU ball, foam balance pad, large yoga ball)
Various positions (half kneel, tall kneel, tandem stance, SLS
Additional Notes
Equipment: Ollyball, tennis racket, weighted dowel rods
Safety note: can use overhead harness for fall prevention if patient needs to reach outside base of support/chase after balloon
You can also try using a standing frame for those who need more assistance with standing
