Equine-assisted therapeutic activities and their influence on the heart rate variability: A systematic review

To examine the effect of equine-assisted therapeutic interventions on users’ heart rate variability, using this said variability as an objective biological variable related to stress levels. A systematic review has been carried out using the methodology suggested in the PRISMA declaration following...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Complementary therapies in clinical practice 2020-05, Vol.39 (NA), p.101167-101167, Article 101167
Main Authors: García-Gómez, Andrés, Guerrero-Barona, Eloísa, García-Peña, Inés, Rodríguez-Jiménez, Marta, Moreno-Manso, Juan Manuel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal assisted therapy
Autonomous nervous system
Central nervous system
Clinical research
Clinical trials
Equine-assisted therapeutic activities
Heart rate
Heart rate variability
Horses
Medical screening
Nervous system
Nursing
Parasympathetic nervous system
Relaxation
Stress
Systematic review
Variability
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Summary:To examine the effect of equine-assisted therapeutic interventions on users’ heart rate variability, using this said variability as an objective biological variable related to stress levels. A systematic review has been carried out using the methodology suggested in the PRISMA declaration following systematic searches in academic databases. 432 registers were initially identified; however, in the screening and suitability process, nine papers were included in the review. With one exception, all of them reported that equine-assisted therapeutic activities had a favourable effect on users’ heart rate variability as such activities favour a state of relaxation by activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System. The analysis of the quality of the evidence and the confirmation of the bias in the works indicate that these results must be considered with caution. Although these preliminary results are promising, more rigorous clinical trials are necessary to overcome the methodological limitations of the works. •Effects of equine-assisted activities on users have been studied.•Changes in heart rate variability have been examined.•A systematic literature search following PRISMA method has been carried out.•Except for one study, all works have found positive changes.•More rigorous studies are needed to overcome methodological limitations.
ISSN:1744-3881
1873-6947
DOI:10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101167