Clinical Trial: Trial of Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Study Status: Active, not recruiting
Recruit Status: Active, not recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Measuring the Effects of Therapeutic Horseback Riding on School-Age Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Brief Summary: This study is being carried out to learn more about the effects of Therapeutic Horseback Riding (THR) for children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This treatment is very popular and horseback riding for children and adults with disabilities has been used as a form of therapy in the United States for over forty years. However, very little research has been done to find out whether or not THR is effective as a therapy for children with an ASD. This study is being done to see if THR will improve the agitation behaviors, coordination, and communication skills of children and adolescents with an ASD. This study is also being done to find out if the horse is necessary for children and adolescents with an ASD to improve.

Detailed Summary: This study expands previous preliminary equine-assisted intervention research, including the authors' 10-week Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) intervention pilot, by evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic horseback riding (THR) on self-regulation, socialization, communication, adaptive, and motor behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: One hundred and twenty-seven participants (ages 6-16 years) were randomized by nonverbal IQ standard scores (< 85 or > 85) to one of two 10-week small groups: THR intervention; or barn activity (BA) control group without horses. Both interventions used similar methods, and the fidelity of the THR intervention was monitored. Participants were evaluated within one month pre- and post-intervention by raters blind to intervention conditions and caregiver questionnaires. Weekly during the intervention, caregivers rated participants' behaviors during the preceding week.
Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver

Current Primary Outcome: Change in Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (Irritability subscale) [ Time Frame: One month pre-intervention, weekly for 10 weeks during intervention, and one month post intervention, and 6 months post intervention ]

Original Primary Outcome: Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (Irritability subscale) [ Time Frame: 12 months ]

Current Secondary Outcome:

• Change in Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (Hyperactivity, Lethargy, Stereotypy subscale) [ Time Frame: One month pre-intervention, weekly for 10 weeks during intervention, and one month post intervention, and 6 months post intervention ]
  The investigators hypothesize that social communication behaviors will increase and subjects will show a decrease in aberrant behaviors from pre to post THR lesson and over the course of the 10-week intervention, as observed in the brief periods captured (e.g., estimated 4 minutes before and 4 minutes after each THR lesson).
• Change in Social Responsiveness [ Time Frame: One month pre-intervention, weekly for 10 weeks during intervention, and one month post intervention, and 6 months post intervention ]
  Subjects in the THR group will have greater improvements in socialization, as measured by a parent/guardian report form, the Social Responsiveness Scale, than the control group.
• Change in Systematic Analysis of Language Transcript [ Time Frame: One month pre-intervention, weekly for 10 weeks during intervention, and one month post intervention, and 6 months post intervention ]
  Subjects in the THR group will have greater improvement on communication, as measured by blinded speech therapist assessment using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts
• Change in Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-4 [ Time Frame: One month pre-intervention, weekly for 10 weeks during intervention, and one month post intervention, and 6 months post intervention ]
  Subjects in the THR group will have greater improvement on communication, as measured by blinded speech therapist assessment using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts, as well as by parent interview utilizing the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II communication subscale, than the control group.
• Change in Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2nd Ed. (Short form) [ Time Frame: One month pre-intervention, weekly for 10 weeks during intervention, and one month post intervention, and 6 months post intervention ]
  Subjects in the THR group will have greater improvement on motor functioning (i.e., physical coordination, stability, and motor planning/praxis), as measured by blinded Occupational Therapists assessment utilizing the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency and the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test, than the control group.
• Change In Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (Praxis on verbal command & Postural Praxis subtests) [ Time Frame: One month pre-intervention, weekly for 10 weeks during intervention, and one month post intervention, and 6 months post intervention ]
  Subjects in the THR group will have greater improvement on motor functioning (i.e., physical coordination, stability, and motor planning/praxis), as measured by blinded Occupational Therapists assessment utilizing the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency and the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test, than the control group.
• Change in Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales Interview 2nd Ed. [ Time Frame: One month pre-intervention, weekly for 10 weeks during intervention, and one month post intervention, and 6 months post intervention ]
  subjects in the THR group will have statistically non-significant changes in their post-intervention scores on communication, as measured by blinded speech therapist assessment using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts, as well as by parent interview utilizing the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II communication subscale.

Original Secondary Outcome:

• Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (Hyperactivity, Lethargy, Stereotypy subscale) [ Time Frame: 12 months ]
  Change measures (baseline one month pre-intervention, weekly for 10 weeks during intervention, one month post intervention, 6 months post intervention)
• Social Responsiveness Scale [ Time Frame: 12 months ]
  Change measures (baseline one month pre-intervention, one month post intervention, 6 months post intervention)
• Systematic Analysis of Language Transcript [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
  Change measure (baseline one month pre-intervention, one month post intervention, 6 months post intervention)
• Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-4 [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
  Change measure (baseline one month pre-intervention, one month post intervention, 6 months post intervention)
• Buininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2nd Ed. (Short form) [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
  Change measure (baseline one month pre-intervention, one month post intervention, 6 months post intervention)
• Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (Praxis on verbal command & Postural Praxis subtests) [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
  Change measure (baseline one month pre-intervention, one month post intervention, 6 months post intervention)
• Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales Interview 2nd Ed. [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
  Change measure (baseline one month pre-intervention, one month post intervention, 6 months post intervention)

Information By: University of Colorado, Denver

Dates:
Date Received: November 19, 2014
Date Started: October 2010
Date Completion: December 2017
Last Updated: May 2, 2017
Last Verified: May 2017