The effect of Equine therapy on static and dynamic balance of children with autism spectrum disorder

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article/Open Access/ Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license

Authors

1 Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran

2 Motor behavior department, physical education and sport science faculty, university of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

3 Laboratory of Intelligent Machines, LUT University, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland

4 Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran.

5 Department of Motor Behavior،Faculty of Sport Sciences، Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad،Iran

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorder often exhibit weaker balance performance compared to their typically developing peers. Since maintaining balance is crucial for engaging in various motor activities, it necessitates special attention and enhancement. This study aimed to explore the impact of horse therapy on the static and dynamic balance of children with autism spectrum disorder. The research involved 24 children aged 9-12 with autism spectrum disorder, divided into experimental and control groups for a pre-test-post-test analysis. The experimental group underwent 16 sessions of horse therapy, and the Leaf test was utilized to assess the dependent variable. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27, employing ANOVA analysis of variance and Bonferroni’s post hoc test. The findings revealed a significant enhancement in both static (P<0.001) and dynamic balance (P<0.001) in the experimental group following equine therapy compared to the control group. This study underscores the efficacy of equine therapy in ameliorating the balance deficits of children with autism spectrum disorder, advocating for its utilization as a beneficial intervention method in this population.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Mind, Movement, and Behavior

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 06 December 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 May 2024
  • Revise Date: 05 August 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 December 2025

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