Basketball
Intervention Summary
Goals: Balance
Patient task: Throw mini basketball into basketball hoop
Dog task: Retrieve ball and bring back to patient
Scale: Patient positioning, resistance, surfaces
Equipment needed: Mini basketball dog toy
Intervention Overview
Bring a little bit of March Madness into your clinic! Play a game of basketball with your patient and facility dog, challenging their balance and activity tolerance.
Patient Instructions
Start by standing in front of basketball hoop
Patient throws ball into basketball hoop
Dog’s Role
Dog retrieves ball that patient tossed
Brings ball back to patient to patient’s left/right, in standing/sitting/down position
Interaction level: active
Scaling
Make it easier:
Patient in sitting position
Bring basketball hoop closer to patient
Use lightweight ball
Allow use of assistive device for balance
Make it harder:
Use without assistive device
Change to uneven surface: foam balance pad, BOSU ball
Change patient’s foot positioning: feet together, tandem stance, single leg stance, squat
Add weights to upper extremities for resistance
Additional Notes
Equipment: Basketball dog toy
