A Mayo Clinic study found that the presence of therapy animals may increase patient engagement, physical activity and mobility during stroke rehabilitation. 

A visit from a therapy animal may do more than lift spirits. A new study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings highlights how animal-assisted treatment can support inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Patients who interacted with therapy animals showed greater engagement in their treatment, increased physical activity and longer mobility compared with those who did not.

The findings suggest a promising approach to addressing common barriers patients face with stroke recovery, including limited motivation, reduced energy, lack of companionship and decreased interest in therapy activities. By incorporating trained therapy dog-handler teams into rehabilitation care, patients can do a variety of activities including walking, playing fetch, and petting or brushing the dog.

“The presence of a therapy dog can change the entire dynamic of a rehabilitation session,” says Whitney Romine, manager of animal-assisted services at Mayo Clinic. “Patients often share that they feel more grounded, safe and empowered to engage in therapy activities, which can make a meaningful difference in their recovery experience. 

The paper, “The Impact of Animal-Assisted Treatment on Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation,” shows how patient care could be improved using a clinical care delivery model that includes qualified animal handler teams. The study also explores how these changes could be applied across a variety of medical specialities and patient populations.

“Stroke recovery can be challenging, particularly when patients face barriers such as low motivation or limited energy,” says Brent Bauer, M.D., a physician in internal medicine at Mayo Clinic. “This research demonstrates that animal-assisted treatment may offer a practical and effective way to enhance engagement and support better rehabilitation outcomes.”

This research was conducted in collaboration with Nestlé Purina PetCare. For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding, review the study.