|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
Felinotherapy from medical staff´s point of view
Fejtová, Petra ; Zita, Lukáš (advisor) ; Masopustová, Renata (referee)
The thesis is focused on animal-assisted therapy and cats interacting with humans as the main part of the therapy. Felinotherapy as officially called is less known than other more popular animal-assisted therapies such as canistherapy and hippotherapy but already considered for a valuable part of animal-assisted therapy. The beginning of thesis is focused on animal- assisted therapy in general, its methods and animals which can be used for therapeutic purposes. The next part of thesis is about felinotherapy, its history, forms and methods and theoretical possibilities of its use as well as about a selection and training of suitable cats. The different breeds of cats are described for use in felinotherapy. Thesis goal is to show advantages of a cat as a suitable animal therapist and compare it with other animals. We could apply felinotherapy to clients of all ages and with different types of distabilities and diseases. The most commonly used form of felinotherapy is visiting program. The last part describes different ways to use felinotherapy in various target groups of clients and patients. For newcomers to the client´s home for the elderly cat helps relieve the stress of moving, to replace the lack of social ties, promote cognitive fiction and may be a subject of conversation with other clients or participiants of felinotherapy. In children, the cat may even become involved in teaching through play. In the end there are all indications, contraindications and risks associated with this therapy being deemed and disscused. Risk of disease transmission from cat to clients is minimized if the cat used for felinotherapy is regularly vaccinated, wormed and is under regular veterinary supervision.
|
|
The dog and its effect on the human psyche
Široká, Kateřina ; Fiala Šebková, Naděžda (advisor) ; Chmelíková, Eva (referee)
The aim of this bachelor thesis is to create a scientific research which is both comprehensive and current on the topic Dogs and their influence on human mental health. The first part is about general usage of dogs in animal-assisted therapy. The history of the mutual relationship between people and dogs is mentioned briefly, including not only domestication of dogs but also the first utilization of dogs in animal-assisted therapy. Further there are different methods of animal-assisted therapy, which can be divided into activities (AAA), therapy (AAT), education (AAE) and animal assisted crisis response (AACR). Coherent conception of education as we know from other fields is still missing in canistherapy as well as unification of testing rules for dogs used in canistherapy. The mentioned levels of therapists qualifications and testing rules for dogs in canistherapy in this thesis are based on a non-profit organisation Pomocné tlapky o.p.s. The second part of this work is focused on dogs influence on human mental health in different diseases and stages of life. Dogs can have an important role in infants emotional development including self-confidence growth, independence and empathy. Dog assisted therapy is proven to be useful for improving psychosocial adaptation of young people in institutional treatment, who suffer from psychosocial problems caused by a traumatic experience from childhood. Dogs can help to stimulate speech development in autistic children, support social interactions as well as both verbal and nonverbal behaviour. Dog assisted therapy was designed as a care complement for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder because it is well known that dogs have positive influence on reducing stress and anxiety. As anxiety is a key schizophrenia feature, dog assisted therapy is also beneficial when treating this disease. AAT application is used for aphasia patients to aim at their desire to communicate, improving their mood and decreasing their feelings of loneliness. Animal assisted intervention (AAI) is also one of the methods designed to improve life quality of geriatric patients. AAI is used as an innovative means to improve mental health in geriatric patients. Dogs also represent big psychological support in oncology patients and make healing process easier. Dogs support feelings of Calmness, wellbeing and safety during hospitalization. As emerged from many studies, dogs have positive influence on human mental health and due to this it is beneficial to include dog assisted intervention as a complementary method within complex rehabilitation.
|
|
Effect of equine assisted therapy on the body posture
Burešová, Barbora ; Hofmanová, Barbora (advisor) ; Majzlík, Ivan (referee)
The work deals with the body posture and the way how it is influenced by equine assisted therapy.
The first part deals with human motor activity and its development. Motor activity is divided into supporting and targeted. Supporting motor activity provides upright posture through reflex mechanisms. Targeted motor activity includes voluntary and involuntary movements. Voluntary movements are controlled by central nervous system at the instigation of our mind. If we perform specific movements regularly they can transform into stereotypes on the basis of kinetic learning. These movements and their control automate and are performed unconsciously which can lead to excessive muscle straining.
Involuntary movements associated with food intake walking etc. are set by motor patterns. Motor patterns are motion responses of the central nervous system occurring in the same form in the sequence of generations. Simple reflexes and complex physical reactions. Motor development is given by these motor patterns and is bound to a healthy central nervous system. It begins with development of the body posture and targeted locomotion. The work describes the physiological development of human motor activity and its particular periods. Muscle activity is gradually coordinated. It ensures the centered position of the joints and correct curvature of the spine. Motor development continues with verticalization. The child uses balance coordination and muscle strength to develop unsupported walking. In the period of around two years when the central nervous system matures some reflexes and motor patterns fade away and the first motion stereotypes begin to arise.
The second part deals with the posture that reflects and affects the overall condition of the body. It is a muscle holding of particular body parts against the force of gravity. Posture is part of every position and a precondition of movement. This work describes individual components of the musculoskeletal system with emphasis on the axial system and spine which are the basis from which each move unfolds. The skeleton forms the firm basis for the body protects organs and is the site of insertion of individual muscles. The paper describes the structure and properties of muscle tissue. And muscles whose function is essential for posture are mentioned. Posture and every movement is provided by balanced cooperation of muscles which are controlled from the central nervous system that is why part of this work describes the nervous system itself.
The end of the second part focuses on poor body posture caused mainly by motion stereotypes acquired throughout life which leads to excessive muscle tension followed by pain and limitation of mobility. Many of these stereotypes were formed in childhood that is why they may appear to be perfectly normal often we do not even realize doing them and because of that we do not know how to change them.
The next section outlines the principles of holistic medicine that body and mind are inseparable and one affects the other.
The final part discusses the relationship between man and horse that reaches far into our history. It focuses on the use of horses to improve the health and overall quality of life of men. That is an area of which the interest is currently growing. The work deals with the effect of the horses to humans especially in physical and psychological areas. To understand the effect on the physical side the movement of the horse at a walk is described and also the rider's position and his movement which is caused by the movement of the horse's back.
The thesis summarizes the findings of a direct effect of hippotherapy on the physical body and the effects on the psychological side of a man because these areas are closely interlinked.
|
| |
| |
|
Physiotherapy for patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy - therapeutic use methods and assistive devices to delay neuromuscular spinal deformities
KUBIČKOVÁ, Karolína
In my bachelor work I look into the problems of the spinal muscular atrophy, assess both the effect of physiotherapy performed and utilization of compensation aids to control the progression of the disease. SMA presents an autosomal recessive genetic progressive disease of neuromuscular system, in the course of which muscular hypotonia, even atrophy develops. This process origins in a gradual deterioration of motoneutrons of frontal spinal corners. SMA ranks among rare hereditory diseases when both parents of the affected patient are bearers of a defective gen, although the illness doesn´t manifest in them themselves. The illness, in its medium and more advanced forms, starts usually its occurence in an early childhood. The rapidity of SMA progression differs in every individual. The patiens who suffer from this illness are mostly dependent on a wheelchair and their lifetime is substantially limited. Neither pathogenesis, nor treatment are currently known.One of major problems, which are brought by the illness, is the start of a backbone neuromuscular deformities which gradually deteriorates. A progressing scoliosis is often so significant that a surgical treatment becomes inevitable because compression of internal organs reaches such a condition that a conservative treatment is not sufficient any more. The patiens often complains of a back and hip painfulness. Viewed by physiotherapy, it seems inevitable to select a correct, individual therapy for every affected person and to recommend them suitable compensation aids. In particular, the choice of a wheelchair must be done with a proper care. Especially the quality of the sitting part and the part catering for a sufficient stability of the body, present the most important items to check while selecting a wheelchair. The importance of a proper wheelchair results from the fact that the SMA patiens spend in it most of their lifetime and that´s why the comfort of usage and the limitation of both backbone deformities and pelvis obliquities appears so important.In the theoretical part of my work I focused on the definition of SMA disease. I stated the classification of SMA and the therapy options. Next, I mentioned the physiotherapy methods, which are most often employed in therapy and compensation aids, which are inevitable for the SMA patiens and present a slowdown of the disease progression. A high quality and suitably selected compensation aid participates in a partial deceleration of occurence or progression of neuromuscular deformation of the backbone.This bachelor thesis aims at monitoring of physiothrapy application chances in SMA. It examines if the illness can be partially affected by employing physiotherapeutical methods. In addition, it deals with the availability and effectivity of compensation aids.
|
guest ::
