Title:

Human Knot

Jonathan Navarro
LEI: 4724

Citation: Priestley, D. (2014, November 1). Human Knot. Retrieved March 10,
2016, from http://www.ventureteambuilding.co.uk/human-knot/

Equipment: 4-12 participants, no equipment necessary

Activity Description:
1. Gather group together and have everyone form a circle.
2. Everyone must put their right hand in the air and proceed to grab another
participants hand across the circle.
3. They will then do the same thing with their left hand.
4. Participants must be holding hands from 2 other people.
5. Participants may not hold hands with someone on either side of them.
6. After participants successfully grab on to other participants hands they must
then work together to untangle the human knot that has formed.
7. Players must untangle themselves without breaking the chain of hands.
8. If at any point the chain breaks, the contestants must restart from the
beginning.

Leadership Consideration:

If the group is having trouble untangling themselves, the facilitator should

make an exception to the rule and allow one chain to break. This will relieve
some frustration the group may be experiencing.

Discussion Questions: Did you feel like you had a chance to give your input to
untangle the knot? Did you become a leader or follower? How did it feel to be
a follower? Was it frustrating not being able to untangle yourselves?

Adaptations for Myopathy: Individuals diagnosed with myopathy experience

symptoms of muscle pain, muscle weakness, fatigue, and tightness. The
facilitator could consider using a rope or string for the participants hands.
This allows the participants not to strain themselves keeping their hands
locked with others. They will hold one end of the string while two others
hold the other ends.

Adaptation for Multiple Sclerosis: Depending on the severity of the patients

condition, they may experience symptoms such as dizziness, weakness,
vision problems, difficulty walking, and fatigue. One adaptation that a
facilitator could consider for this particular condition could be to have the
participant sit in a chair in the middle of the circle. They will be at the center

of the knot and ideally be the last knot to untangle in order to accomplish the
overall goal. This allows the participant to stay involved in the game and
experience active contribution to teamwork.