Effects of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review
[1]
Stergiou Alexandra, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
[2]
Varvarousis Dimitrios, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
[3]
Tzoufi Meropi, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
[4]
Beris Alexandros, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
[5]
Fili Elissavet, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
[6]
Doulgeri Sofia, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
[7]
Ploumis Avraam, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Equine assisted activities and therapies are found to have positive cognitive, physical, emotional and social effects in children with autism spectrum disorder. In this study, a literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, CINAHL, MBASE, SportDiscus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, PEDro, DARE, Google Schoolar, Dissertation Abstracts. Only studies with a control/comparison group, or self-controlled studies performing pre-intervention and post-intervention assessment were included. Excluded (i) studies not providing data on baseline score or end-point outcome, (ii) studies providing only qualitative data (iii) studies that used a mechanical horse. Seven trials were included. Evaluation of the selected studies was performed using Downs and Black (1998) quality assessment tool. These seven trials assess a beneficial effect of equine assisted activities and therapies in mood and tone, irritability, lethargy, stereotypic behavior, hyperactivity, physical, emotional and social functioning and sensory integration. Meta-analysis did not become because of the different measurements of individual studies. The symptoms of autism spectrum disorder necessitate a multi-faceted therapeutic approach and the role of equine assisted activities and therapies is substantial. The literature review shows that equine assisted activities and therapies is an effective intervention, which can complement the range of different therapeutic actions taken to deal with such type of disorders.
Autism Developmental Disorders, Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies, Hippotherapy, Therapeutic Riding
[1]
Eissa N, et al., Current enlightenment about etiology and pharmacological treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Front Neurosci, 2018. 12: p. 304.
[2]
Gidley Larson, J. C., et al., Acquisition of internal models of motor tasks in children with autism. Brain, 2008. 131 (Pt 11): p. 2894-903.
[3]
Cook, J., From movement kinematics to social cognition: the case of autism. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2016. 371 (1693): p. 20150372.
[4]
Bodfish, J. W., et al., Varieties of repetitive behavior in autism: comparisons to mental retardation. J Autism Dev Disord, 2000. 30 (3): p. 237-43.
[5]
Asperger, H., Problems of infantile Autism. Communication, 1979. 13: p. 45-52.
[6]
DiCicco-Bloom, E., et al., The developmental neurobiology of autism spectrum disorder. J Neurosci, 2006. 26 (26): p. 6897-906.
[7]
Kern, J. K., et al., Prospective trial of equine-assisted activities in autism spectrum disorder. Altern Ther Health Med, 2011. 17 (3): p. 14-20.
[8]
Bass, M. M., C. A. Duchowny, and M. M. Llabre, The effect of therapeutic horseback riding on social functioning in children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord, 2009. 39 (9): p. 1261-7.
[9]
Lanning, B. A., et al., Effects of equine assisted activities on autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord, 2014. 44 (8): p. 1897-907.
[10]
PATH International. 2013 19/1/2013 [cited; Available from: http: //www.pathintl.org/.
[11]
Sterba, J. A., et al., Horseback riding in children with cerebral palsy: effect on gross motor function. Dev Med Child Neurol, 2002. 44 (5): p. 301-8.
[12]
Sterba, J. A., Does horseback riding therapy or therapist-directed hippotherapy rehabilitate children with cerebral palsy? Dev Med Child Neurol, 2007. 49 (1): p. 68-73.
[13]
Stergiou, A., et al., Therapeutic Effects of Horseback Riding Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 2017. 96 (10): p. 717-725.
[14]
Meregillano, G., Hippotherapy. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am, 2004. 15 (4): p. 843-54, vii.
[15]
McGibbon, N. H., et al., Effect of an equine-movement therapy program on gait, energy expenditure, and motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy: a pilot study. Dev Med Child Neurol, 1998. 40 (11): p. 754-62.
[16]
Dewar, R., S. Love, and L. M. Johnston, Exercise interventions improve postural control in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review. Dev Med Child Neurol, 2015. 57 (6): p. 504-20.
[17]
Zadnikar, M. and A. Kastrin, Effects of hippotherapy and therapeutic horseback riding on postural control or balance in children with cerebral palsy: a meta-analysis. Dev Med Child Neurol, 2011. 53 (8): p. 684-91.
[18]
Kroger, A., Remedial Vaulting as Social Training in Elementary School. Therapeutic Riding in Germany., in Selected Constributions from the Special Brochures of the DKThR. 1998, DKThR. p. 45-51.
[19]
Moher, D., et al., Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. Syst Rev. 4: p. 1.
[20]
Downs, S. H. and N. Black, The feasibility of creating a checklist for the assessment of the methodological quality both of randomised and non-randomised studies of health care interventions. J Epidemiol Community Health, 1998. 52 (6): p. 377-84.
[21]
McHugh, M. L., Interrater reliability: the kappa statistic. Biochem Med (Zagreb), 2012. 22 (3): p. 276-82.
[22]
Landis, J. R. and G. G. Koch, The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics, 1977. 33 (1): p. 159-74.
[23]
Moher, D., et al., Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Bmj, 2009. 339: p. b2535.
[24]
Cohen, J., A coefficient of agreement for nominal scales. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1960 (20): p. 37-46.
[25]
Gabriels, R., et al., Pilot study measuring the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on school-age children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2012. 6: p. 578-588.
[26]
Gabriels, R. L., et al., Randomized Controlled Trial of Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2015. 54 (7): p. 541-9.
[27]
Borgi, M., et al., Effectiveness of a Standardized Equine-Assisted Therapy Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord, 2016. 46 (1): p. 1-9.
[28]
Ward, S. C., et al., The association between therapeutic horseback riding and the social communication and sensory reactions of children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord, 2013. 43 (9): p. 2190-8.
[29]
Lewis, J., The Birth of a Family. New York, NY: Brunner/Mazel, 1989.
[30]
Dunn, W., Sensory Profile. San Antonio, 1999. TX: The Psychological Corporation.
[31]
Gilliam, J. E., The gilliam autism rating scale (2nd ed.). Austin, 2006: p. TX: Pro-Ed, Inc.
[32]
Constantino, J. N., The Social responsiveness scale. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services, 2002.
[33]
Aman, M. G., et al., The aberrant behavior checklist: a behavior rating scale for the assessment of [treatment effects. Am J Ment Defic, 1985. 89 (5): p. 485-91.
[34]
Bruininks, R. H., & Bruininks, B., BOT-2: Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency. Eagan, 2005. MI: Pearson Education.
[35]
Varni, J. W., M. Seid, and P. S. Kurtin, PedsQL 4.0: reliability and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 generic core scales in healthy and patient populations. Med Care, 2001. 39 (8): p. 800-12.
[36]
Langraf, J. M., & Ware, J. E., The CHQ user’s manual. Boston:, 2008. HealthActCHQ Inc.
[37]
Miller JF, C. R., SALT: A computer program for the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts. Madison WI: University of Wisconsin, 2000.
[38]
Sparrow, S., Balla, D., & Cicchetti, D., The Vineland adaptive behavior scales: Interview edition, survey form manual. Circle Pines, 1984. MN: American Guidance Service.
[39]
Shallice, T., Specific impairments of planning. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 1982. 298 (1089): p. 199-209.
[40]
Barton, E. E., et al., A systematic review of sensory-based treatments for children with disabilities. Res Dev Disabil, 2015. 37C: p. 64-80.
[41]
Weitlauf, A. S., et al., Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Behavioral Interventions Update [Internet]. 2014.
[42]
Mackinnon, J. R., et al., A study of therapeutic effects of horseback riding for children with cerebral palsy. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr, 1995. 15 (1): p. 17-34.
