Battle Rope Pull
Intervention Summary
Goals: Balance, Arm strength, Grip strength
Patient task: Pull battle rope to reel in facility dog
Dog task: Sit on chair while patient pulls rope
Scale: Positioning, Surface
Equipment needed: Battle rope
Intervention Overview
Attach a battle rope to a rolling chair or wheelchair, with your facility dog siting on the chair, and ask your patient to reel them in! This is a great exercise that can challenge many goals all at once — balance, strength, coordination. Let your patient give some pets and a treat once they pull them all the way in.
Patient Instructions
Set up in hallway or open gym, with battle rope attached to a rolling chair and stretched out in front of patient
Patient pulls in battle rope hand-over-hand, reeling in the facility dog
Dog’s Role
Facility dog sits on rolling chair while patient pulls the rope in
Interaction level: passive
Scaling
Make it easier:
Patient in sitting position
Use lightweight rope instead of weighted battle rope
Make it harder:
Various positions (half kneel, tall kneel, feet together, tandem stance, single leg stance)
Perform on uneven surfaces (foam pad, BOSU ball, sitting on large yoga ball)
Ask patient to maintain squat position
Additional Notes
Equipment: Battle rope, lightweight rope
