Therapeutic Riding: Assessing Human Versus Horse Effects

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the grief process of 58 horse owners who had had their horses euthanized. Owner-present euthanasia was performed in 83% (n=48) of cases, while in 36% of cases the horse was euthanized at the owner's home. The euthanasia was described by the respondents as peaceful in 84% of cases. Respondents appreciated both active support directly after the euthanasia by the veterinarian in 69% (n=40) of cases and a telephone follow-up after a couple of days (67%; n=39). The veterinarian was evaluated as compassionate and friendly by 83% of the respondents (n=48), and as a better veterinarian by 50% of the respondents (n=29). The mean grief index of the respondents was 8.5 (range: 1[low] to 10[high]) and the mean grieving period was 4.4 months. Most respondents (86%) received support from their social environment. This study demonstrated that grief is common after equine euthanasia. The role of the veterinarian in the grieving process is important.     

Therapeutic Horseback Riding and Self-Concept in Adolescents With Special Educational Needs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between participation in a therapeutic riding program and improvement in self-concept. Using a One Group Pre and Post Test design, the Piers Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale was administered to 29 adolescents identified by the school system as having special educational needs. These students participated in a therapeutic riding program. The mean percentage score of those participants who had no previous riding experience was not statistically significant; however, there was an increase. A t-value of 2.17 (df=22) was obtained on the two-tailed paired t-test conducted on the Behavior Cluster scores. This was statistically significant at the .05 level. Also, there was a positive correlation between younger students and improvement in self-concept scores. Furthermore, those participants who had previous therapeutic riding experience started with a mean score of 80%, as compared with 52% for those with no previous experience.     

Functional Assessments Used by Occupational Therapists with Older Adults at Risk of Activity and Participation Limitations: A Systematic Review

Introduction

The use of functional assessments to evaluate patient change is complicated by a lack of consensus as to which assessment is most suitable for use with older adults. Objective: To identify and appraise the properties of assessments used to evaluate functional abilities in older adults.

Methods

A systematic review of randomised controlled trials of occupational therapy interventions was conducted up to 2012 to identify assessments used to measure function. Two authors screened and extracted data independently. A second search then identified papers investigating measurement properties of each assessment. Studies from the second search were included if: i) published in English, ii) the assessment was not modified from its original published form, iii) study aim was to evaluate the quality of the tool, iv) and was original research. Translated versions of assessments were excluded. Measurement quality was rated using the COSMIN checklist and Terwee criteria.

Results

Twenty-eight assessments were identified from the systematic search of occupational therapy interventions provided to older adults. Assessments were of varied measurement quality and many had been adapted (although still evaluated as though the original tool had been administered) potentially altering the conclusions drawn about measurement quality. Synthesis of best evidence established 15 functional assessments have not been tested in an older adult population.

Conclusions

The Functional Autonomy Measurement System (SMAF) appears to be a promising assessment for use with older adults. Only two tools (the SMAF and the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS)) were deemed to be responsive to change when applied to older adults. Health professionals should use functional assessments that have been validated with their population and in their setting. There are reliable and valid assessments to capture the functional performance of older adults in community and hospital settings, although further refinement of these assessments may be necessary.     

一个骑破车的老外

一个骑28破自行车的老外,整天行色匆匆,忙忙碌碌,打听一下。海口几乎随便谁都能告诉你,那个人呀,就是冯汉……     

Riding tandem: circadian clocks and the cell cycle

The circadian clock, which governs metabolic and physiological rhythms in diverse organisms, shares common features with the cell cycle. Yet, these two oscillatory systems seem to be fully independent of each other. Recent studies now reveal that some essential regulatory elements are common to both the cell cycle and circadian clock.     

Osteoarthrosis of the Antebrachiocarpal Joint of 7 Riding Horses

Osteoarthrosis (OA) of the antebrachiocarpal joint from 7 riding horses is described. The horses were old mares and developed severe OA, with ankylosis in some of the joints. The lesions were bilateral, and the owners noticed the lameness in a late event. The cause of severe OA in these mares is not clear. The fact that OA was bilateral indicates that a single traumatic injury is unlikely as an etiologic factor. Considering the severe joint lesions it took long time before the horse-owners noticed the lameness. It is discussed if the threshold of pain is higher in the antebrachiocarpal joint compared with the middle carpal joint.