Equoterapia com idosos: resultados de pesquisas e percepções de profissionais

• Ano de defesa: 2021
• Autor(a) principal: Matarazo, Jackeline Barbosa
• Orientador(a): Freitas, Eduarda Rezende
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: por
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Católica de Brasília
• Programa de Pós-Graduação: Programa Stricto Sensu em Gerontologia
• Departamento: Escola de Saúde e Medicina
• País: Brasil
• Palavras-chave em Português: Idosos; Equoterapia; Envelhecimento; Terapia assistida por animais
• Palavras-chave em Inglês: Animal assisted therapy; Hippotherapy; Elderly; Aging
• Área do conhecimento CNPq: CNPQ::CIENCIAS DA SAUDE
• Link de acesso: https://bdtd.ucb.br:8443/jspui/handle/tede/2892

For centuries, animals have been used as mediators for the rehabilitation of patients with different ages and pathologies. In a playful or therapeutic way, many studies report biopsychosocial benefits obtained through the relationship between humans and animals. The horse is one of the most used in Animal Assisted Therapy, and its practice is named Riding Therapy. This method was recently regulated in Brazil and presents itself as an effective non-drug treatment option for different clinical conditions and age groups. However, old age is a phase that has been less researched, especially in the national context. Thus, this investigation aimed to discuss the practice of Hippotherapy with the elderly. Therefore, two studies were carried out. The first consisted of a systematic review that aimed to analyze the state of the art of empirical articles on hippotherapy with elderly people, published between 2000 and 2020, in English or Portuguese, in four databases. The PRISMA method and RAYYAN software were used in this study. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 38 articles were selected for analysis, and only 31.57% had the sample composed exclusively of elderly people. Women, patients with sequelae of stroke, multiple sclerosis or post-traumatic stress disorder were the most investigated. Balance (34.21%) and the Berg Balance Scale (23.68%) were, respectively, the most frequently analyzed variable and instrument. It was found, in 92.10% of the articles, benefits after riding therapy. Most interventions (68.42%) were only with Hippotherapy. The second study, on the other hand, consisted of a quali-quantitative research, with 25 Riding Therapy professionals (23-57 years old), in order to assess their perceptions about working with the elderly. They answered an online questionnaire, consisting of demographic questions and related to work experience with people in old age. Mostly, the sample consisted of females (72%) and physical therapists (48%). The average time working with Hippotherapy was 6.64 years (SD=5.39), and 60% of the participants reported having attended at least one elderly person during this period. Among those who have never worked with this group, 90% want to serve older practitioners. All professionals reported that Hippotherapy can be beneficial for people in old age, highlighting the improvement in socialization, balance, self-esteem, among others. As for the challenges, real or potential, reported, the difficulties of the practitioner stand out, both physical, such as mobility, and psychological, for example, fear; the workplace (eg, lack of access ramp for riding); and the team, such as lack of qualification. Another challenge mentioned by the participants was the low demand, due to lack of referrals or not being the focus of action in the place where they work, for example. With the growing aging population, studies on health interventions for the elderly are increasingly needed. Based on the results of the two studies conducted, it was found that Riding Therapy provides several benefits to the physical and mental health of elderly practitioners. However, it is necessary that researchers and professionals, in Hippotherapy and training in Hippotherapy, delve into this theme so that more elderly people can benefit from this method.