Equine Therapy Shows Slate of Benefits for Patients With Parkinson Disease

Equine therapy as a support to traditional Parkinson disease treatment is effective for the recovery of occupational performance, activities of daily life, mood, balance, gait, and quality of life, according to study findings published in Healthcare.

“In the last decades, rehabilitative interventions that provide assistance to animals have spread with programs aimed at various diseases and populations,” wrote researchers. “Scientific evidence for equine therapy has reported benefits in children with autism spectrum disorder, infants with infantile cerebral paralysis, and people with multiple sclerosis.”

The study evaluated the effect of equine therapy in 17 individuals with Parkinson disease. The intervention included a horse-assisted walking activity, feeding activity, vocalization exercises in which participants issued commands to the animal, breathing exercises assisted by the horse, and other activities based on individual preferences. Participants took part in 10 twice-a-week sessions that lasted 45 minutes each.

Compared to preintervention, participants after the 10 sessions showed statistically significant gains in mood on the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Rivermead ADL Scale, and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS).

Improvements in mobility, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, stigma, and cognitive abilities were also significant on the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39). Social support, communication, and physical discomfort items also improved, although not significantly.

Analysis of the Tinetti balance assessment tool showed significant improvement. Data from the stabilometric platform, however, did not show significant changes.

“[H]orses offer physical and psychological therapy, both of which allow for physical, tactile, and emotional stimulation,” wrote researchers. “All these characteristics offered participants with Parkinson disease a treatment aimed at improving balance and posture, gait, rigidity, and involuntary movements, as well as making it easier to navigate social-relational and behavioral spheres, act with self-control, and pay attention. Self-awareness, self-esteem, motivation, and volition were all enhanced.”

Reference:
Berardi A, Di Napoli G, Ernesto M, et al. The effectiveness of equine therapy intervention on activities of daily living, quality of life, mood, balance and gait in individuals with Parkinson disease. Healthcare. 2022 Mar 17;10(3):561. doi:10.3390/healthcare10030561