Animal Assisted Therapy
Recruiting now · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Anxiety, Trauma, Hospitalized Adult Patients, Rehabilitation, Physical Mobility Impairment, Therapy Dog, Pediatric Patient (1m-21y)
In brief
This study looks at whether walking with a therapy dog helps adult and pediatric trauma patients move more during their hospital stay. Early movement after an injury or surgery can prevent problems such as blood clots, pressure sores, and muscle loss, but pain and anxiety often make it hard for patients to get out of bed. Each patient in this study takes part in two walking sessions-one with a certified therapy dog and one without a dog. The order is randomized, so some patients walk with the dog first and others walk without the dog first. Before and after each walk, patients fill out short surveys about their pain, anxiety, and motivation to move. The research team measures how far and how long each patient walks in both sessions. The goal of this project is to see if therapy dog visits can safely and effectively improve mobility, reduce pain and anxiety, and make walking more enjoyable for trauma patients. Findings from this study may help hospitals design better rehabilitation programs that use animal-assisted therapy to support physical and emotional recovery.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07227181
- Run by
- Andrew Bernard
- People needed
- 128
- Starts
- 2025-07-23
- Expected to finish
- 2026-12-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-07-24
Who can join
Age: 4 and older, up to 99. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Adults (18 years of age and older)
- trauma patients
- emergency general surgery patients
- pediatric patients (4 - 17 years old)
You may not qualify if…
- weight bearing limitation
- spine instability
- oxygen requirement >2LPM, GCS <15,
- high fall risk (as evidenced by door label)
- fear of dogs
- allergies to dogs
- prisoners
Where it is running
- University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital — Lexington, Kentucky, United States (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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