Martínez Moreno Carmen María, Hernández Garre José Manuel, Echevarría Pérez Paloma, Morales Moreno Isabel, Vegue Parra Eva, Valero Merlos Eloína
Department of Social and Healthcare Research and Development, Catholic University of Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Aug 15;13(16):2014. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13162014.
: This study examines the effectiveness of equine-assisted intervention (EAI) in improving adaptive behaviour and motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). : To that effect, a self-controlled experimental analytical study has been designed, which is longitudinal and prospective in nature, with pre- and post-intervention measures, using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale II (VABS-II) as the assessment instrument. The sample consists of 19 children who participated in weekly therapeutic sessions involving horses for eight months; these sessions included horseback riding, groundwork, hygiene, and preparation of the horse. : The results show significant improvements both in the overall score of the VABS-II test (x¯pre: 65.84 ± 10.38-x¯post: 72.47 ± 16.21, = 0.003) and in the areas of communication (x¯pre: 64.84 ± 15.50 ~ x¯post: 72.26 ± 21.93, = 0.010), social skills (x¯pre: 61.26 ± 8.99 ~ x¯post: 66.53 ± 13.79, = 0.008) and daily living skills (DLS) (x¯pre: 66.21 ± 11.15 ~ x¯post: 69.95 ± 12.32, = 0.0004), as well as a non-significant slight improvement in motor skills (x¯pre: 72.50 ± 8.83 ~ x¯post: 75.17 ± 7.88, = 0.363). In addition, these gains were greater in those children attending standard classroom settings and receiving early stimulation. : This study suggests equine-assisted intervention (EAI) may contribute to improvements in adaptive behaviour, including communication, social skills, and daily living skills, in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Benefits were notably enhanced in children receiving early stimulation within standard classroom settings.
本研究探讨了马辅助干预（EAI）对改善自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童适应行为和运动技能的有效性。为此，设计了一项自我对照实验分析研究，该研究本质上是纵向和前瞻性的，采用干预前后测量，使用文兰适应行为量表第二版（VABS-II）作为评估工具。样本包括19名儿童，他们参加了为期八个月的每周一次的涉及马匹的治疗课程；这些课程包括骑马、地面工作、卫生和马匹护理。结果显示，VABS-II测试的总分（干预前均值：65.84±10.38 - 干预后均值：72.47±16.21，P = 0.003）以及沟通领域（干预前均值：64.84±15.50 - 干预后均值：72.26±21.93，P = 0.010）、社交技能（干预前均值：61.26±8.99 - 干预后均值：66.53±13.79，P = 0.008）和日常生活技能（DLS）（干预前均值：66.21±11.15 - 干预后均值：69.95±12.32，P = 0.0004）均有显著改善，运动技能也有不显著的轻微改善（干预前均值：72.50±8.83 - 干预后均值：75.17±7.88，P = 0.363）。此外，在参加标准课堂设置并接受早期刺激的儿童中，这些进步更大。本研究表明，马辅助干预（EAI）可能有助于改善自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童的适应行为，包括沟通、社交技能和日常生活技能。在标准课堂设置中接受早期刺激的儿童中，益处尤为明显。
