The Effects of Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program on Motor Skills inChildren with Autism Spectrum Disorder  

作　　者：Mengxian Zhao Yonghao You Jinming Li Sean Healy Alyx Taylor Zhihao Zhang Linlin Li Liye Zou 

机构地区：[1]School of Physical Education,Shenzhen University,Shenzhen,518060,China [2]Department of Sports Science,Hefei Normal University,Hefei,230601,China [3]Body-Brain-Mind Laboratory,School of Psychology,Shenzhen University,Shenzhen,518060,China [4]School of Nursing,Psychotherapy and Community Health,Dublin City University,Glasnevin,Dublin 9,Ireland [5]School of Rehabilitation,Sport and Psychology,AECC University College,Bournemouth,BH5S2DF,UK [6]School of Sport Social Science,Shandong Sport University,Jinan,250102,China [7]Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education,East China Normal University,Shanghai,200241,China

出　　处：《International Journal of Mental Health Promotion》2022年第4期475-489,共15页国际心理健康促进杂志（英文）

基　　金：funded by Guangdong Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science(General Project in 2021,No.GD21CTY02);Shenzhen University Young Teachers Research Initiation Project(No.20210402);This study is supported by Start-Up Research Grant of Shenzhen University(20200807163056003);Start-Up Research Grant(Peacock Plan:20191105534C).

摘　　要：Therapeutic horseback riding(THR)as an animal-assisted intervention is one of the innovative approaches emer-ging in the treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD).The current study was designed to inves-tigate the effects of a 12-week,twice a week THR program on motor skills in sixty-eight children with ASD aged 5–10 years old.All participants selected met the DSM-V criteria for ASD,and a total offifty-three participants completed the study.A randomized controlled trial design was utilized for the study.Data was collected via a pre-THR test,interim-THR test,and post-THR test to investigate the possible changes in motor skills throughout the 12-week THR program.Results showed that the THR program significantly improved overall motor skills across time points(p<0.05)and sub-skills of run,gallop and two-hand catch(as compared to the control group,p<0.05).In conclusion,the THR program may be an effective option for improving motor skills in children with ASD and further investigation with a longer period of intervention is warranted.

关 键 词：Therapeutic horseback riding animal-assisted intervention motor skills children with ASD AUTISTIC developmental disability equine-assisted activities and therapies 

分 类 号：R749[医药卫生—神经病学与精神病学] R395[医药卫生—临床医学]