Equoterapia e qualidade de vida de pessoas com disfunções neurológicas: séries de casos

• Autor(a) principal: Santos, Brenda Maciel dos
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Tipo de documento: Trabalho de conclusão de curso
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da PUC_SP
• Texto Completo: https://repositorio.pucsp.br/jspui/handle/handle/40374
• topic: CNPQ::CIENCIAS DA SAUDE::FISIOTERAPIA E TERAPIA OCUPACIONAL; Equoterapia assistida; Fisioterapia; Paralisia cerebral; Transtorno do espectro autista; Terapia assistida por cavalos; Qualidade de vida; Equine-assisted therapy; Physiotherapy; Cerebral palsy; Autism spectrum disorder; Quality of life

Neurological changes can affect muscle tone, strength, balance and motor control, affecting functionality, which is the result of the interaction between health condition, body structures, physiological functions, capacity and performance in activities and social participation, producing a lower quality of life. Equine-Assisted Therapy is commonly guided by a physiotherapist or occupational therapist, with the aim of using equine movements to improve balance, posture, gross motor function, and fine motor skills. It can provide many benefits, regulating muscle tone, facilitating the development of postural control, muscle strength, motor coordination, waist dissociation, balance, proprioception, self-confidence and selfesteem, improving quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the possible benefits of Equine-Assisted Therapy on the functional independence and quality of life of practitioners with neurological disorders and to investigate parents' perception of the effects of Equine-Assisted Therapy as a therapeutic resource on the quality of life of children and adolescents with neurological disorders. METHODS: This observational case series included six children/adolescents with neurological disorders, aged between six and 17 years of both sexes, practicing or who have already practiced Equine-Assisted Therapy. An interview was carried out with seven guardians, with a qualitative questionnaire on the perception of the effects of Equine-Assisted Therapy and assessment of quality of life using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Pediatric Quality of Life Assessment Inventory (PEDSQL). RESULTS: It was possible to observe that the therapies are standardized by time and duration and that almost all practitioners benefited. A single person in charge was unable to answer whether or not there were gains (from practitioner J. P. M.L.S). He reported that he did not know how to answer why the disease was progressive, but he believes that it helped to slow the progression of the disease. The gains observed were in motor function, trunk and cervical control, static and dynamic balance, gait. Improvements in social function and communication have also been reported. Regarding quality of life, in the physical dimension it was possible to observe that the percentage values varied from 15 to 87%, with an average of 62%. In the emotional dimension, values varied between 50 and 90%, with an average of 67%. In the social dimension, percentage values varied between 30-65%, with an average of 46%. In the school dimension, percentage values varied between 20 and 80%, with an average of 60%. CONCLUSION: Equine-Assisted Therapy showed benefits in quality of life and global motor development. The reported gains also involved social participation and communication. Equine-Assisted Therapy was standardized in duration and number of times performed per week. Equine therapy allows you to accompany the practitioner in the physical, social and emotional dimensions. The active influence of the environment, horse and therapist provide a playful activity, although still not very accessible to most children and teenagers