RIDING THERAPY AND ITS BENEFITS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)

Abstract

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is identified as a behavioral disorder, without a defined origin and cause. It has been a frequent condition these days. Autism generates a difficulty in socialization and communication of the child with the other people around him, postural problems, and motor impairment. Objectives: To carry out a survey of the effects and benefits of hippotherapy as a therapeutic resource and form of treatment in children and adolescents with ASD. Methodology: This research was carried out through a literature review by consulting the search indexes in the electronic databases Pubmed, BVS/Scielo and PEDro and the secondary search was also carried out verifying: Doctoral Theses, Master's Dissertations, Monographs, which describe the benefits of Hippotherapy in the treatment of ASD. Results: 18 articles were selected for analysis of results and of these, only 6 articles met the inclusion criteria. Conclusion: The accomplishment of this research allowed us to observe the benefits that hippotherapy promotes to its practitioners with ASD, and among these results, very positive effects were observed both in motor and postural changes, balance gain, in the intellectual aspect, in addition to the relevance of interactions of physical and sensory stimulation.