How to Perform the Exercise
Setup: Fit the patient into the Solo-Step harness and connect the lanyard to the trolley on the overhead track. Position the patient perpendicular to the direction of travel so they are facing sideways relative to the track. The therapist should stand directly in front of the patient, facing them, at a comfortable tossing distance of approximately 4 to 6 feet. Select a soft, lightweight ball appropriate for the patient’s grip strength and coordination level. Adjust the lanyard length to allow natural upright movement while ensuring the system can engage immediately if balance is lost.
Starting Position: Have the patient stand tall with feet together, core lightly engaged, and arms relaxed and ready to receive the ball. The therapist should be positioned directly in front of the patient, holding the ball and prepared to initiate the first toss. Both the patient and therapist should make eye contact before beginning the exercise.
The Exercise:
- The therapist tosses the ball to the patient. The patient catches the ball, tosses it back to the therapist, and then takes one side step in the designated direction of travel.
- After the patient completes the step and brings their feet together, the therapist immediately tosses the ball again. The patient catches and returns the ball, then takes the next side step.
- The pattern continues in this alternating sequence: catch and toss, then step, the full length of the track.
- The therapist moves laterally in unison with the patient to maintain a consistent tossing distance and position directly in front of the patient throughout the exercise.
- At the end of the track, the patient reverses direction and repeats the sequence, leading with the opposite foot, returning to the starting position.
- Repeat for the prescribed number of lengths or duration.
Progressions: As coordination, balance, and attention improve, the therapist can advance the exercise by increasing the pace of the tosses, varying the height or direction of each toss to require greater visual tracking and reactive adjustment, introducing a cognitive layer such as counting, naming categories, or answering questions during the sequence, adding a resistance band around the ankles to increase the lateral stepping demand, or requiring the patient to complete two side steps between each toss to elevate the movement challenge.