Hunt Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway.
J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Oct;17(10):901-8. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0547.
The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on behavior, health-related quality of life, and motor performance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The study employed a time series quasi-experimental design with two pretests and two post-tests conducted 8 weeks apart.
SETTING/LOCATION: The study was conducted at a riding school in Levanger, Norway.
The subjects comprised a convenience sample of 5 children aged 10-11 years with ADHD.
Subjects received a 1-hour therapeutic horseback riding twice a week for 8 weeks as intervention.
Behavior and health-related quality of life was assessed using Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and The KINDL(R)-Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire, respectively. The Modified Function-Neurological Assessment and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children assessed the subject's motor performance.
The pre- and post-tests scores were compared with the Wilcoxon paired sample tests and the Friedman test for nonparametric multiple test samples. Positive differences (p≤0.05) between the test results at pretest 2 and post-test 1 were noted for the behavior SDQ subscore "Total difficulties" reported by children (12.8±5.8), by parents (16.6±8.2), and by teachers (15.0±5.2). A significant difference (p<0.05) for the "Total difficulties" in SDQ was found between all 4 tests. In relation to quality of life, significant differences in the "Total score" (67.2±14.7) were reported by the children themselves. The motor performance improved after the intervention. The effect sizes and power were established.
The results of the present study indicate that therapeutic horseback riding had a positive effect on 5 children with ADHD in several domains of the social role behavior, quality of life, and motor performance. This pilot study constitutes a good scientific prospect for future studies.
本初步研究旨在探讨治疗性骑马对患有注意缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）儿童的行为、健康相关生活质量和运动表现的影响。
本研究采用时间序列准实验设计，两次预测试和两次后测试相隔 8 周进行。
地点/设置：本研究在挪威莱旺格的一家骑术学校进行。
受试者为 5 名年龄在 10-11 岁的 ADHD 儿童，采用方便样本。
受试者每周接受 2 次、每次 1 小时的治疗性骑马干预，共 8 周。
使用《Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire》（SDQ）和《KINDL®-Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire》分别评估行为和健康相关生活质量。使用《改良功能神经评估》和《儿童运动评估量表》评估受试者的运动表现。
将预测试和后测试的分数与 Wilcoxon 配对样本检验和非参数多项测试样本的 Friedman 检验进行比较。在第 2 次预测试和第 1 次后测试之间，儿童（12.8±5.8）、父母（16.6±8.2）和教师（15.0±5.2）报告的行为 SDQ 子评分“总困难”、“父母报告的总困难”（16.6±8.2）和“教师报告的总困难”（15.0±5.2）出现了正差异（p≤0.05）。SDQ 中的“总困难”在所有 4 项测试中存在显著差异（p<0.05）。在生活质量方面，儿童自身报告的“总分”（67.2±14.7）有显著差异。干预后运动表现有所提高。建立了效果量和功效。
本研究结果表明，治疗性骑马对 5 名患有 ADHD 的儿童在社会角色行为、生活质量和运动表现的多个领域产生了积极影响。本初步研究为未来的研究提供了良好的科学前景。
