Autism is a disorder that has increased in numbers and prevalence within today’s society. Though no cure has been found, recent studies have focused on different therapeutic intervention techniques offered to autistic individuals, including the use of Therapeutic Horseback Riding. This study analyzes the relationship of therapeutic horseback riding on gross motor function in children with Autism. Four children participated in a ten week previously established therapeutic horseback riding program at French Camp, Mississippi. Gross motor function was assessed before and after five riding sessions by recording performances of eleven skills from Motor Skills Inventory (MSI). Only two participants completed all riding sessions and MSI assessments to be eligible for this study. Statistical analysis was conducted using Friedman’s Two Way Analysis of Variance by Ranks. There were no significant differences in the assessments before/after the riding sessions as well as the entire period of the ten week program.

This mixed-methods study examined the effects of participation in a 10-week therapeutic horseback riding program on communicative behaviors in participants diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors utilized the Naples Equestrian Challenge Participant Initial Evaluation to complete a pre-evaluation prior to the first riding session and a post-evaluation during the last session. Following the post-evaluation, the researcher collected qualitative data through conducting parent interviews. The study included 16 participants (M = 12.62; age range 5-23 years old, 8 females and 8 males). Change scores for each participant were calculated and an aggregated mean for pre- and post-evaluations were determined and results indicated increases in all seven communication indicators. Analysis of parent interviews also revealed improvements in communicative skills and behaviors. Overall, results indicate improvements in communication for children and adolescents with developmental disability and the need to further investigate therapeutic horseback riding as an efficacious therapy.

The last decade has witnessed a growing trend toward developing new ways in which human beings may benefit from the creative and non-exploitative use of animals. These animals, generally having some special or unique quality and often referred to as companion animals or pets, have demonstrated a therapeutical value for many persons far beyond the parameters of simple recreation.

There doesn´t exist yet a saddle which is mainly designed for therapeutic riding. What the therapist do nowadays is, that they use either normal saddles and add different devices with screws on, or they use a vaulting girth. Both of them are not the ideal solution and a saddle designed for therapeutic riding is needed. The goals were, to design a saddle where the child sits safer on the horse and the exercises can be done smooth, the therapist should have a stressfree job and the horse should feel comfortable through the entire therapy session.

Individer som utövar någon typ av sport utsätter sig för både psykiskt och fysisk påfrestning. Denna påfrestning kan vara något som stressar individen och måste därför hanteras och bemästras på något sätt.  Syftet med studien var att undersöka vad som motiverar hobby- respektive professionella ryttare, finns det någon skillnad i upplevelsen av motgångar i sin sport mellan hobbyryttare och professionella tävlingsryttare, och om grupperna har olika sätt att bemästra motgångar. Deltagarna var 11 kvinnor, fem professionella ryttare och sex hobbyryttare. Analysen gjordes genom meningskoncentrering, där olika teman utformades efter studiens frågeställningar. Resultatet visade bland annat på att hobbyryttarna använde sig utav undvikande bemästrande strategi i större utsträckning än vad de professionella ryttarna gjorde. Detta skulle kunna bero på att professionella ryttare använde sig mer utav problemfokuserad bemästrandestrategier därför att de hade mer rutin och kunskap inom sporten än hobbyryttarna hade.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an intricate and complex disorder that continues to grow in its prevalence year after year. The disorder is based on decreased social communication with prevalent stereotypical behaviors and problems in sensory processing. Due to the disorder diagnosis based on a spectrum, each child is different in their severity, and thus requires individualized forms of therapies and treatments. The cause of ASD is unknown, which makes the treatment difficult to standardize. Desperate to find a regimen that benefits their child’s ability to function more successfully, more and more parents are utilizing complementary alternative medicine (CAM). The problem with CAM is lack of evidence that supports using CAM practice. One example of CAM is hippotherapy, which is a type of intervention used by physical, occupational and speech therapists which uses the movements of a horse to address a patient’s impairments physically, emotionally and neurologically. Hippotherapy has been used since the 1960s for a number of disorders. This systematic literature review examines the effects of hippotherapy for children with ASD in regards to increasing social communication and decreasing stereotypical behaviors. The conclusion of the review resulted in conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of hippotherapy for children with ASD. This inconclusive lack of evidence is generally due to the lack of standardized measurement scales or treatment plans used during each session and small sample sizes.

This thesis concentrates on compiling a set of exercises which should serve beginner riders as training, muscle-developing and stretching exercises. The work may be divided into three basic parts. Compilation of exercises with respect to the theoretical knowledge of a rider's movements on a horse. Choice of a suitable group of contenders for the experiment and testing their physical abilities with a set of motoric tests. Check-out measuring of changes in movement abilities after fourteen weeks of checking the efficiency of the proposed set of exercises. The project also contains the horseback riding theory and the theory of developing and stretching particular muscle groups. In the final part of the thesis the gathered data are presented in charts and their values, after their statistic evaluation, transfered into graphs.

This study used video feedback to improve the horseback riding skills of advanced beginner riders. The study focused on three skill sets, those used in jumping over obstacles, dressage riding on the flat, and jumping position riding on the flat. Baseline consisted of standard lesson procedures. Intervention consisted of video feedback in which a recorded attempt at the target behaviors was immediately shown to the rider and the instructor. The rider and instructor reviewed the video while the instructor delivered feedback. Target behaviors were scored according to checklists that correspond to each skill. For all participants, video feedback increased their correct riding skills.

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Orientador: Antonio Guilherme Borges Neto / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T05:06:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Beinotti_Fernanda_M.pdf: 9201808 bytes, checksum: d609b11e7e91baf9efe4ad77f7a31d67 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência da Hipoterapia no treino de marcha em indivíduos hemiparético pós-AVC. O estudo constou de 20 indivíduos divididos em dois grupos (A e B), o grupo A realizou tratamento convencional e o grupo B, tratamento convencional e Hipoterapia, durante 16 semanas. Os pacientes foram avaliados pela Escala Modificada de Aswhorth, Escala de Fugl-Meyer, Escala de Equilíbrio de Berg, Escala de Deambulação Funcional, a Cadência e o Questionário genérico de Qualidade de Vida -SF36, no início e no final do tratamento. Nos resultados melhoras significativas foram observadas no grupo experimental incluindo melhora do tônus apenas dos flexores plantares (p=0,0268), comprometimento motor em membros inferiores (p= 0,004), o equilíbrio, em relação ao tempo (p= 0,007) e a independência na marcha apresentou uma tendência à significância (p = 0.0519). A cadência e a velocidade não apresentaram relevância estatística em ambos os grupos (p = 0,69 e 0,44). Em relação à qualidade de vida, no total da pontuação da escala, houve significância entre os grupos. O experimental melhorou significativamente (p=0,007), já o controle não (p-valor= 0,80). Nos itens Capacidade Funcional, Aspectos Físicos e Saúde Mental houve diferença entre os grupos (p= 0,0273; 0,0156 e 0,0410). No grupo experimental houve melhora significativa nos Aspectos Físicos (p= 0,0019), no item Saúde Mental houve uma tendência a significância (p=0,0619) e na Capacidade Funcional não existiu melhora (p= 0,08). No controle não houve melhora significativa na Capacidade Funcional (p= 0,1828) e nos Aspectos Físicos e Saúde Mental houve piora, porém sem significância (p= 0,3078 e 0,4297). Os domínios, Dor, Estado Geral de Saúde, Vitalidade, Aspectos Sociais e Limitação por Aspecto Emocional não apresentaram melhoras significativas. Com os achados no estudo conclui-se, que a Hipoterapia associada à fisioterapia convencional mostrou ser um bom recurso para a melhora da marcha e da qualidade de vida dos indivíduos hemiparéticos / Abstract: the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of Hippotherapy in gait training in post-stroke hemiparetic individuals. The study consisted of 20 individuals divided into two groups (A and B). Group A performed a conventional treatment, and group B a conventional treatment along with Hippotherapy, during 16 weeks. The patients were evaluated by the Modified Scale of Aswhorth, Fugl-Meyer Scale, only the lower limbs and balance sub items, Balance Scale of Berg, Functional Ambulation Category Scale, Cadence and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey - SF-36, in the beginning and end of treatment. In the results, significant improvements were observed in the experimental group including spasticity improvement, only in the plantar flexors (p=0,0268), motor impairment in lower limbs (p = 0.004), balance, over time (p = 0.007), the gait independence showed a significant trend over time (p = 0.0519). The cadence and speed were not significantly in both groups (p = 0.69 and 0.44). As to life quality, there was significance between groups in scale score total. The experimental group improved significantly (p=0.007), yet the control group not (p= 0.80). In the Functional Capacity, Physical Aspects and Mental Health item there was a difference between the groups (p= 0.0273; 0.0156 e 0.0410). In the experimental group there was a significant improvement in Physical Aspects (p= 0.0019), the Mental Health item showed a significant trend (p=0.0619) and Functional Capacity did not present significant improvements (p= 0.08). In the control group the Functional Capacity item did not show significant improvements (p= 0.1828) and Physical Aspects and Mental Health items presented worsening, but not significant (p= 0.3078 e 0.4297). The domains Pain, General Health State, Vitality, Social Aspects and Limitation by Emotional Aspect did not present significant improvements. With the findings of this study, it is possible to conclude that Hippotherapy associated to conventional physical therapy proved to be a good resource to improve gait and the quality of life of hemiparetic individuals / Mestrado / Ciencias Biomedicas / Mestre em Ciências Médicas