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Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Gait Performance, Respiratory Function, and Psychological Variables in Patients Post-Stroke

Author

Listed:
  • Ho-Jung An

    (Department of Physical Therapy, Dongnam Health University, 50, Cheoncheon-ro 74 beon-gil, Jangan-gu, Suwon-si 16328, Gyeonggi-do, Korea)

  • Shin-Jun Park

    (Department of Physical Therapy, Suwon Women’s University, 1098, Juseok-ro, Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong-si 18333, Gyeonggi-do, Korea)

Abstract

Background: Animal-assisted therapy using dogs is being administered to patients post-stroke for the purpose of recovering psychological and physical activity. Objective: This study was conducted to confirm the effect of animal-assisted therapy using dogs on gait performance, pulmonary function, and psychological variables in patients post-stroke. All outcomes were analyzed using two-way repeated-measure analysis. Methods: In total, 30 post-stroke patients were divided into an experimental group (gait training by animal-assisted activity, n = 15) and a control group (gait training, n = 15). Gait performance (cadence, gait speed, stride length, symmetric index), respiratory pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP)), and psychological variables (rehabilitation motivation and depression assessment) were measured before and after eight weeks of intervention. Results: Gait performance, respiratory pulmonary function, and psychological variables significantly increased in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Based on this study, it was found that animal-assisted therapy using dogs is an effective intervention for recovery of psychological and physical activity in patients post-stroke.

Suggested Citation

  • Ho-Jung An & Shin-Jun Park, 2021. "Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Gait Performance, Respiratory Function, and Psychological Variables in Patients Post-Stroke," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5818-:d:564528
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Felicitas Theis & Frank Luck & Margret Hund-Georgiadis & Karin Hediger, 2020. "Influences of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Episodic Memory in Patients with Acquired Brain Injuries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-12, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Giulio Verrienti & Cecilia Raccagni & Ginevra Lombardozzi & Daniela De Bartolo & Marco Iosa, 2023. "Motivation as a Measurable Outcome in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-25, February.

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