Date
2-7-2024
Department
School of Health Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Chair
Shannon Williamson
Keywords
occupational therapy, hippotherapy, equine movement, developmental disabilities, pediatrics
Disciplines
Rehabilitation and Therapy
Recommended Citation
Dillon, Ainsley Ellen, "Occupational Therapy Using Hippotherapy for Children with Developmental Disabilities" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5180.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5180
Abstract
The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the impact of incorporating equine movement (hippotherapy) as a treatment tool in occupational therapy (OT) sessions for children with developmental disabilities. This study posed research questions relating to the impact of this treatment tool in OT practice on mobility and daily activity skills within the population of interest. A non-randomized controlled trial with pretest-posttest design was utilized to explore the research questions. Sixteen subjects enrolled in this study by convenience sampling and participated in six weeks of 45-minute OT sessions incorporating equine movement (intervention group, n = 8) or six weeks of 45-minute adaptive riding sessions involving equine movement without OT (control group, n = 8). All research activities took place at a PATH Intl. Member Center in Western Pennsylvania. Caregivers completed the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT) before and after the six-week treatment period, and occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) completed the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) after the six-week treatment period based on individualized, measurable goals created based on needs identified on the PEDI-CAT. Data was analyzed using repeated measures and multivariate ANOVAs. Results indicated a statistically significant improvement in mobility and daily activity skills as determined by OTP-reported outcomes. These results were accompanied by caregiver-reported data that revealed a need for more carryover of therapeutic outcomes to everyday life. Skill areas that had caregiver- and OTP-reported improvements include: balance, motor planning, standing and sitting endurance, attention to task, functional mobility, dressing, fastener and container manipulation, and food preparation.
