Chimpanzee Swing

  • Strengthens abdominal muscles, which is important for upright posture.
  • Improves strength, coordination and control of the upper limb which is important for pre-writing/handwriting and fine motor control.
  • Provides deep pressure proprioceptive input to the muscles and joint, which can be useful for regulation (to achieve a ‘calm, alert’ state, ready for learning)

 

HANDOUT
PRACTISE JOURNAL
TECHNIQUE VIDEO

Uses

This is a great exercise to do just prior to handwriting or other fine motor activities (e.g. using cutlery, doing up buttons, tying shoelaces, threading beads), because it activates the core and upper limb muscles (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand and fingers).

Instructions

  1. Sit up tall on your bottom with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor
  2. Place your hands beside you and push down to lift your bottom off the floor
  3. Hold your bottom up for as long as you can (with good posture)
Chimpanzee Swing

Watch Points

  • Bottom held up off the floor (only feet and hands touching the floor)
  • Good shoulder posture (shoulders down and back)
  • Chest upright
  • Tummy muscles squeezed

Seated:

Make sure it’s a sturdy chair. Place your hands on the sides of your chair, halfway between the front and back of the chair (so the chair will stay still and balanced when you lift your bottom).  Push down through your hands to lift your bottom off the chair (and feet off the floor also if you can).

Wheelchair:
Make sure the wheelchair brake is on and you position your hands on the middle of your armrests. Push down through your hands to lift your bottom off the chair.

Progress Tracker

For how long can you hold your bottom off the floor in the Chimpanzee Swing position?