The influence of equine-assisted services on the balance of a participant with visual impairment and autism characteristics.

This study looked at how horse therapy helped one person who was both visually impaired and had autism. The researchers tested the person's balance before and after horse therapy sessions using two different balance tests. The person's balance improved after the horse therapy program, suggesting this type of therapy might help with balance problems in people with similar conditions.

This case study examined the impact of equine-assisted services on balance in one participant with visual impairment and autism characteristics. The researchers used the Berg Balance Scale and Tinetti's Balance Scale to assess static and dynamic balance before and after the intervention. Results showed improvements in both static and dynamic balance following the equine-assisted services program. The study suggests that equine-assisted interventions may be beneficial for addressing balance challenges in individuals with this complex presentation of visual impairment and autism characteristics, though findings are limited to a single participant.

Equine-assisted services may represent a promising intervention for balance improvement in individuals with visual impairment and autism characteristics. However, larger controlled studies are needed before clinical recommendations can be made. Clinicians should consider this as a potential complementary therapy option.

Single case study design with one participant limits generalizability. No control group or randomization. Sample size not clearly reported. Lack of follow-up data to assess long-term effects. No comparison with other interventions.

Balance is the basis for all body movements, and is influenced by sensory systems: visual, vestibular and proprioceptive. Therefore, the loss of any of these systems, as in the case of visual impairment (VI), may carry important consequences for body balance and, thus, motor development. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the static and dynamic balance of a participant with VI and autism characteristics. application of the Berg and Tinetti's Balance Scale, pre- and post-equine assisted services interventions. The study is a qualitative and descriptive case study.

The data found showed improvement in the participant's static and dynamic balance, with performance enhancement on the two scales assessed after the equine assisted services program. The results proved that equine assisted services is an alternative and effective tool for balance stimulation and improvement of a visually impaired participant with autism characteristics.