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

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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 foot positions (feet together, tandem stance, single leg stance)

• Perform on uneven surfaces (foam pad, BOSU ball)

• Ask patient to maintain squat position

Additional Notes

• Equipment: Battle rope, lightweight rope