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Animal assisted activities in the Czech Republic in comparison with the situation in the U. S. A.
Váňová, Tereza ; Hofmanová, Barbora (advisor) ; Machová, Kristýna (referee)
Animal therapy is one branch of therapy that is utilizing a mutual interaction of two living species. The first medical reference for horseback riding therapy dates to the 2nd Century A.D. and dogs were used for the first time as a supplement to the therapy in the 8th Century in Belgium. The greatest expansion of animal therapy occurred during the second half of the 20th Century.
Dogs are being used in canine therapy due to their friendliness and their higher body temperature. Kabatchnik and colleagues state that the average body temperature of a dog is 38.2C (2016) and are being used for positioning. To their clients, the dogs are a pleasant distraction and a motivation to make improvements during the rehabilitation process even though their effect is mainly psychological.
Equine - assisted activities and therapies utilizes horses as co-therapists mainly due to the way horses move. Their three-dimensional movement is similar to the way the human body moves while walking. One component of equine - assisted activities and therapies is hippotherapy that belongs under physiotherapy. The most important component for a positive effect on the client is that the horse must move in a mechanically sound manner. These mechanics are then transferred to the client.
Generally, horses and dogs are used for animal therapy, but it is possible to use other animals as well. Cats, ferrets, small rodents, or farm animals are often used for practical reasons such as transportation reasons, lowering costs, and client preferences. Each animal, regardless of the species, must be appropriately socialized and accustomed to human presence.
The Czech Republic is home to many experts that can be compared to the leaders in this field, even the leaders in the USA. A research study in the field of animal therapy is quite grueling, especially because progress is hard to quantify yet the experts are pushing boundaries and gaining new experiences daily. Conferences organized by international institutions ensure the transfer of knowledge and experiences.
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The animal like a means to establishment the contact with an elderly person with dementia
Novotná, Martina ; Svobodová, Ivona (advisor) ; Machová, Kristýna (referee)
This product engages in using animals by the seniors which have the dementia.
Our lives are longer and longer and the population all around the world is older in these days. Hand in hand with this situation we can find more chronic diseases for example the dementia.
People with the dementia have a lot of problems which limit their lives. This illness grow up step by step and than the man can not také care of himself and he needs the help of other people. Men live in the Houses for seniors and their treatmens includes non-pharmacological therapies still often. The theraphy with the animal sis more using nowadays.
The animals are very important in the life of the people, especially in the emotional way of live.
They are very good company and we know about their great role in mental and physical health, so it means very often using of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) in all subcategories.
For seniors with the dementia the animals means relief from the depression, the motivation and the opportunity to participate in various activities.
The animals can help the seniors with their cognitiv functions and all quality of their lives. The dogs, cats, horses, birds and aquarium fishes are the most using for the theraphy. Every animal has own specific qualities and can be using in a different situations or can have an influence to the people with the demetia.
The contanct can be in a form of visiting programmes, living animals in the Houses for seniors or ithe the flat of senoirs. The most using for the theraphy and the activities with the help of animals are AAT and AAA. It is very important to give the target of every programme. The planning is the key for the success of this animal using.
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Use of AAE to integrate children with ADHD and Down syndrome into regular school group
Halíková, Adéla ; Machová, Kristýna (advisor)
The aim is to monitor the effect of AAE in children with ADHD and Down syndrom. In children with ADHD will be monitored the impact on alleviating symptoms of hyperactivity , improved social behavior and concentration . Children with Down syndrom are especially their integration into teaching . The aim is ultimately based on the practical use of animal assisted therapy for specific pupils in the school to take initiatives in educational and psychological counseling for further planning recommendations that should be practiced both family and school.
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Evaluation of animal assisted therapy in hospitals
Zoulová, Kateřina ; Machová, Kristýna (advisor) ; Chaloupková, Helena (referee)
This work deals with the use of Animal- assisted activities (AAA) and Animal- assisted therapy (AAT) in hospitals in the world and in the Czech Republic.
There is a general overview of the use of this therapy in children´s hospitals, hospitals with acute care for people with dementia, patients with acute schizophrenic, cancer and neurological diseases, in this work.
There is description of locating and real course of these programs in this work and presentation of specific dog use units in patients with various types of diseases.
There is a description of research results, which was conducted in hospitals throughout the Czech Republic in the practical part of this work.
Correspondents replies are divided into two sections. The first section contains the responses from the hospital staff and coordinators in volunteer centers, who are performing the therapy in hospital facilities. These answers relate to insurance, legal inquiries and practical implementation of therapy.
Responses in the second section of this work desribe canisterapy directly as it takes place in a different facilities. The way, how the therapy is proceeding, which methods and departments are used.The questionnaire was posted to 30 hospitals, of which the positive feedback provided 8. The answer came from 15 canistherapists of these hospitals.
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Use of the Animal Assisted Activity and Therapy with a Dog in Handicapped Children
Vodvárková, Aneta ; Chaloupková, Helena (advisor) ; Machová, Kristýna (referee)
The aim of this bachelor thesis was to summarize the available knowledge of the use of the therapy with dog in handicapped children and also their influence on children´s health condition. It combines knowledge from the scientific literature, which are complemented by a practical methodology and experience gained in the Czech Republic.
Great importance of the relationship between human and animal shows how animals can affect mental and physical state of the client. Many scientific studies show that the therapies with dogs are very useful, especially for children. Very important target group for therapies with animals are clients with disabilities. Studies show the positive impact and effect on these clients and the improvement is demonstrated on the mental and the physical health. There are various forms of therapies and activities with a dog that are used in the rehabilitation of disabled children. Especially positioning and programs for the development of fine motor are used and experienced.
On canistherapy team composed of handler and his dog are high demands for passing the test and they must work perfectly together. It is required absolute control of the dog, his character and appropriate training. The handler must be perfectly prepared for the action, well-educated and secure his dog and his client safe during activities.
Although therapies and activities with the dog are quite often practiced in the Czech Republic, it is not a medically recognized method of rehabilitation. There is no specific and useful methodology and terminology. This should be the subject for further research.
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Effect of the animal assisted activity and therapy on the children with autism
Šámalová, Magdaléna ; Chaloupková, Helena (advisor) ; Machová, Kristýna (referee)
This bachelor thesis provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of Animal assisted activity and therapy on the children with autism (especially to the quality of their lives). All the information included in this thesis are obtained from the latest sources.
Animal assisted activity and therapy is a therapeutic approach based on the interaction between human and animal. Even though the nomenclature in the field of animal assisted activity and therapy is not yet fully solved, many studies indicate that this approach has a positive impact on patients with psychic, psychosomatic and somatic disorders. Animal assisted activity and therapy finds its applications in many fields, for example in psychology, psychiatry, social pedagogy and so on.
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder may be positively affected by animal assisted activity and therapy. Studies show that improvement of the quality of some aspects of their lives can be achieved by contact with dogs, horses, guinea-pigs and some other animals. Because positive impact has been reported for many different kinds of animals, animal assisted activity and therapy has become popular supportive therapeutic technique ant its popularity is still increasing. The therapy is focused mainly on social behavior and communication abilities.
Even though we still do not have sufficient experience with this approach and also have to deal with many problems such as insufficient number of patients with the same diagnose or biased measurements, the results are optimistic and the number of studies dealing with this approach is increasing.
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Use of Dog in Physiotherapy
Sokolíková, Eliška ; Machová, Kristýna (advisor) ; Chaloupková, Helena (referee)
The theme of the bachelor`s thesis is the possibility to use the dog in diverse areas and activities of physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy is a part of the comprehensive rehabilitation and deals with diagnostics, therapy and prevention of musculoskeletal system disorders. The physiotherapists apply a lot of supportive therapeutic methods in their practice and cooperate with other disciplines so that the best possible results of treatment are achieved. Animal- assisted therapy (AAT), thanks to positive effect on human health, has become in recent years a very popular supportive therapeutic method of various difficulties. The AAT is gaining its position in physiotherapeutic area as well.
The dog, one of the most frequently used animals in AAT, can assist in many fields of physiotherapy. What quality must the dog applicable for AAT meet and the theories about effect of AAT on human beings are also described in the thesis. The topic about the dog assisted rehabilitation is thoroughly depicted on particular examples and the chapter about positioning with dogs, that is the most common application of dogs in therapies, is not missing. The chapter about assistance dogs for people with moving difficulties can serve as a proof that the dog, as a part of physiotherapeutic care, can be present not only during therapies. The dog in this case has become an everyday assistant and can substitute various walking tools (crutches, walkers) or help people in wheelchairs with movement. The thesis is also mapping impact of dog ownership on motoric activity. The conclusion of literary research is dedicated to the chapter examining influence of the therapy on the dog itself.
The practical part, which is attached as an integral section of the thesis, contains three designs of canistherapeutical units for various groups of clients within physiotherapy field. Canistherapeutical units were designed in collaboration with physiotherapists so that it can maximize the effect of AAT on the musculoskeletal system. These designs are: plan of the therapy for children with Down syndrome, spastic form of cerebral palsy and for children with developmental dysphasia.
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Use of Dog in Occupational Therapy
Fílová, Zuzana ; Machová, Kristýna (advisor) ; Chaloupková, Helena (referee)
Main topics of the bachelor´s thesis are possible ways of the dog´s use in occupational therapy. Occupational therapy, as a therapeutic method, its history, definition and main goals are described in the thesis. The following part is depicting animal assisted therapies, their application and functioning principles.
Various studies show that animal assisted therapies have a whole range of positive effects on clients´ physical and mental health as well as they can help clients with social integration. All these areas simultaneously belong to occupational therapy practice and comply with main goals of occupational therapy. Thus use of dogs in occupational therapy has been well justified.
Possible ways of dog´s use in occupational therapy in area of mental health are listed in the thesis, such as the effect of the presence of the dog on the psychological well-being of patients and the use of dog to relieve the feeling of inferiority among mentally ill patients.
The dog also seems to be very appropriate and effective incentive element for communication and cooperation with the therapeutist and social interaction. The dog can also motivate people to physical activity.
Possible ways of dog´s use in occupational therapy in area of physical health are also listed in the thesis. This work describes the effect of the dog to cope with pain in hospitalized patients. Very important is the use of the dog as a compensatory tool.
In this thesis is mentioned that the animal assisted therapies and the use of the dog in occupational therapy needs further research supported by adequate evidence.
Integral parts of the thesis are several designs of canistherapeutical units, which show particular use of the dog in occupational therapy. These canistherapeutical units were designed in collaboration with occupational therapists.
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The use of dogs in special schools
Kobylková, Anna ; Chaloupková, Helena (advisor) ; Machová, Kristýna (referee)
This thesis focuses on the possibilities of the use of dogs for children from special schools, especially children with autism spectrum disorder. Besides the literature review, a survey of knowledge of the use of dogs in special schools in the Czech Republic was also carried out and also how this is eventually implemented in practice.
The first part presents the review of existing data about the implementation of animal-assisted intervention for children with disabilities. At first inconsistent terminology is described, then selected types of disabilities and requirements regarding the dogs used in animal assisted interventions. For example the fact, that dogs are very appropriate for positive interactions with people, or that proper selection and training of the dogs is necessary. Thereafter are summarized studies about influence of dogs on the physiology through decreasing heart rate, blood pressure and level of cortisol or increasing level of hormones associated with a positive experience. This is followed by findings about the effect of a dog on children with disabilities, mentioning especially considerable impact on the social skills but also other skills and elimination of problem behaviors. It is always necessary to make the study as conclusive as possible. Finally, the need to pay attention to animal welfare and ethics during animal-assisted intervention is mentioned.
In the second part, the results of questionnaire filled in by representatives of special schools are evaluated. Out of the 59 surveyed schools 24 responded. The researched sample demonstrated a high degree of awareness of schools about the possibilities of using dogs. Where it is already used, it has been in most cases described an appropriate and correct implementation with a very good impact on a wide range of areas such as social skills, communication and gross and fine motor skills. All this corresponds with the information summarized in the first part.
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