Soccer
Intervention Summary
Goals: Balance, Leg strength, Core strength
Patient task: Kick a ball to the facility dog
Dog task: Kick ball back to the patient
Scale: Patient positioning, resistance, surface
Equipment needed: Ball (soccer ball, Ollyball, yoga ball)
Intervention Overview
Your patients will get to bend it like Beckham with a game of soccer with the facility dog! The patient is tasked with kicking a ball to the dog, and the dog uses its nose to hit it back to the patient. This is a great way to work on leg strength, weight shifting, and dynamic balance.
Patient Instructions
Patient positioned a few feet away from the facility dog, facing each other
Use legs to kick the ball to the dog
Dog’s Role
Dog positioned in front of patient
Used “push” command to train facility dog to hit the ball with nose — new command: “kick”
Interaction level: active
Scaling
Make it easier:
Patient in sitting position
Use without ankle weight resistance
Alternate between impaired and non-impaired leg
Make it harder:
Patient in standing position
Use with ankle weight resistance
Perform while sitting/standing on uneven surface (foam balance pad, BOSU ball)
Use only impaired leg
Additional Notes
Equipment: Soccer ball, Ollyball, yoga ball
Hand soccer: we have also done a version aimed specifically at sitting balance for lower level patients needing core strengthening or for those with lower extremity paralysis. Patients are sitting and lean forward to hit the ball to the dog with their hands.
