Treatment with Equine Therapy in children with autism.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35954/SM2025.44.1.5.e403Keywords:
rehabilitation centers, persons with disabilities, animal assisted therapy, equine-assisted therapy, autism spectrum disorderAbstract
Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders are characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication, atypical patterns of activities and behaviors, difficulty in moving from one activity to another, concentration on details and unusual reactions to sensations. Equine therapy constitutes an opportunity to offer the child scientifically organized activities, oriented to stimulate his development and contact with the environment.
The objective of the present study is to make known the impact of equine therapy on children with autism and to evaluate if this impact referred to in the bibliography and studies carried out in other countries is also perceived in the Equine Therapy Centers in our country.
Materials and methods: Review of the literature between 2010-2024, in MedLine/PubMed, Portal Timbó, Academia.edu and Virtual Health Library of Brazil; in Spanish, English and Portuguese. Interviews and questionnaires to national specialists.
Results: Equine therapy uses exercises and games on horseback, in order to stimulate and motivate the rider; through this activity the child feels comfortable and develops an activity that he/she enjoys. The benefits, changes and times are different for each child. Communication, socialization and organization of ideas are worked on through a specific routine that varies slowly by incorporating small changes to it.
Discussion: The evidence points to an increase in appropriate social interaction skills with horses, thus exhibiting better positive interactions with their family pets; which undoubtedly can also lead to improvements in relationships with other people. Likewise, improvements were observed in the items of cognition, communication, responsibility, self-control, sensory seeking, emotional reaction, inattention/distraction, sensory sensitivity and gait cycle.
Conclusion: Its impact is an effective therapeutic alternative; the benefits are multiple and are confirmed in relatively short periods of time.
This article was approved by the Editorial Committee.
Received for review: September 2024.
Accepted for publication: January 2025.
Correspondence: Military Field N°2 “Zapará”. Route 31 and Road to Casa de Piedra. Tacuarembó, Uruguay. Tel: (+5982) 4630 2107.
Contact e-mail: mariajc17@hotmail.com
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