The incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has increased dramatically in the last decade. The latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that 1 in 59 children are being diagnosed with ASD and it is four times more prevalent in boys than girls. Common treatments for children with ASD are applied behavioral therapy, occupational and speech therapy, which are used solely or in combination. Hippotherapy (HPOT) is another treatment option that has been shown to positively impact various aspects of behavior. This pilot project aims to determine the effects of a 6-week HPOT program on movement and social behavior of children with ASD and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of why HPOT is successful for ASD through the coupling of physiological and temperamental responses between horse and rider. Our approach involves examining these skills pre, during, and post HPOT intervention in children diagnosed with ASD. A group of aged matched children with typical development will serve as the control group. Innovative measures of physiological coupling and temperament between horse and rider as well as objective and quantitative measures of movement and social behavior and caregiver perception will be collected. We anticipate that following completion of the proposed study, we will provide the necessary foundation to understand the mechanisms of HPOT, and thus provide a new framework to test clinical trials of HPOT and human-animal interaction, and ultimately improve the lives of those diagnosed with ASD and their families.

Public Health Relevance

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has increased dramatically in the last decade. The increasing occurrence of ASD creates an imperative need to test the effectiveness and efficacy mechanisms of appropriate interventions. Hippotherapy (HPOT) is a treatment option that has been show beneficial for children with ASD as well as other children with developmental disorders. The current projects focuses on understanding the mechanisms of HPOT efficacy and evaluating a short-term HPOT program for children with ASD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03HD101115-01
Application #
9904069
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Esposito, Layla E
Project Start
2019-03-01
Project End
2021-02-28
Budget Start
2019-03-01
Budget End
2020-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Creighton University
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
053309332
City
Omaha
State
NE
Country
United States
Zip Code
68178