Equine Therapy Programme on Stress, Autonomy and Balance in School-age Children With Intellectual Disabilities

Universidad Pontificia Comillas

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Intellectual Disability

Treatments: Other: EQUINE THERAPY

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07497035

20/004-EQUINE THERAPY

P25/06 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of an equine therapy programme on the emotional state and autonomy of school-aged individuals with intellectual disabilities. Methodology: pre-post quasi-experimental study of a single group. Study subjects: individuals with intellectual disabilities enrolled at the Cambrils special education school. Variables related to stress (salivary cortisol), balance, autonomy, vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, pulse oximetry) and clinical variables will be collected. Intervention: this will consist of 30 minutes of equine therapy and 30 minutes of activities related to horse care. All variables will be collected in an initial baseline measurement and some variables (stress, balance, autonomy and vital signs) will be monitored during and after the intervention.

Full description

Horse-assisted therapy (HAT) or equine therapy has been defined by the National Centre for Equine Facilitated Therapy as a treatment strategy that uses equine movement as part of a coordinated intervention programme to achieve physical, emotional, occupational, and cognitive goals. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of an equine therapy programme on the emotional state and autonomy of school-aged individuals with intellectual disabilities. Methodology: pre-post quasi-experimental study of a single group. The research will be carried out at the facilities of the Yabusan Equestrian Club. Study subjects: individuals with intellectual disabilities enrolled at the Cambrils special education school. Variables related to stress (salivary cortisol), balance, autonomy, vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, pulse oximetry), and clinical variables will be collected. Intervention: This will consist of 30 minutes of horse therapy in which the subject participates according to the degree of their disability. There are three types of therapy: hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, and adapted riding. The second intervention consists of 30 minutes of activities related to horse care (feeding, grooming, physical contact). Follow-up and data collection: all variables will be collected in an initial baseline measurement, and some variables (stress, balance, autonomy, and vital signs) will be monitored during and after the intervention.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: Under 22 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age under 22 years.
• IQ equal to or less than 75.
• Recognised degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects with adrenal gland disorders (Cushing's or Addison's disease).
• Subjects undergoing treatment with corticosteroids.
• Subjects with skin lesions in the area where the portable device is placed.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 1 patient group

EQUINE THERAPY

Experimental group

Description:

EQUINE THERAPY AND HORSE CARE

Treatment:

Other: EQUINE THERAPY