Taylor Physical Therapy

SERVICES

WHO BENEFITS?

Patients who benefit from AAT include those who have had a stroke, brain injury, or other neurologic insult. Others include patients with hand or arm injuries, problems with balance or falls and children.

Animal Assisted Therapy:

Waverly Health Center

ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY - "Charm"

Animal Assisted Therapy, (AAT) is designed to promote improvements in human physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functioning. Charm is a golden lab, utilized as a member of the therapy team working under the careful direction of Physical therapist Leah Their or Occupational therapist Melissa Wittenburg. She is utilized in patient treatment in both the out-patient and hospital settings.

Example of AAT: A woman recovering from a stroke has limited standing and walking tolerance. Leah will introduce Charm to motivate the patient by placing her on a raised table and asking the patient to stand while stroking or brushing the dog’s back. To increase the patients ambulation skills Leah may have her walk the dog for a short distance. Charm may even be utilized as a sort of "moving walking aide" in place of a cane to promote a more natural walking pattern. Finally, Leah may have the patient play fetch with Charm to address a deficit in the patients standing balance.

Adding the "charm" of this beautiful therapy dog to a treatment session increases a patient’s motivation, compliance and overall performance during a treatment session.

AAT will be incorporated into a patient’s treatment plan at the discretion of the therapist and after discussion of it’s benefits with the patient/caregiver.