Obstacle Course
Intervention Summary
Goals: Gait training, Balance
Patient task: Navigate around the obstacles set by the facility dog
Dog task: Drop objects in hallway
Scale: Assistive device, Obstacle difficulty
Equipment needed: Various obstacles (Cones, bean bags, hurdles, etc.)
Intervention Overview
This can be a really fun “choose-your-own-adventure” activity, and your creativity is what makes this challenging for your patient! Give your facility dog various objects and have them drop each object in random places around the gym or hallway. Your patient has to navigate around the obstacles or complete specific task when they reach each object.
Patient Instructions
Patient positioned at “starting line” of the obstacle course
Patient must navigate around each obstacle or complete specific task
Examples: “when you get to a bean bag, do a squat”; “step over each hurdle with your left leg”; “when you reach a cone, turn around and walk in the opposite direction”
Dog’s Role
Facility dog drops objects around the gym or hallway
Interaction level: active
Scaling
Make it easier:
Use patient’s usual assistive device
Use only one type of obstacle
Make it harder:
Perform without assistive device
Increase number or type of obstacles
Set time limits for how long patient has to complete obstacles course
