Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41277278›Full record

ArticleNeuroRehabilitation2025

Exploring Impacts of Integrating a Rehabilitation Dog into Physiotherapy from the Perspectives of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Their Caregivers.

Valerie Caron, Alison Oates, Julie Petrin, Romany Pinto, Joel Lanovaz, Sarah Oosman, Colleen A Dell, Sarah Donkers

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in NeuroRehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Valerie CaronSchool of Rehabilitation Science, University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-1625-2766
Alison OatesCollege of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-9184-6831
Julie PetrinManager and Impact Evaluator, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-4852-0286
Romany PintoWestern College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-1495-7594
Joel LanovazCollege of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Sarah OosmanSchool of Rehabilitation Science, University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Colleen A DellResearch Chair in One Health & Wellness, Professor, Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Sarah DonkersSchool of Rehabilitation Science, University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.ORCID 0009-0009-6973-0961

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BackgroundRehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy (CP) often includes physiotherapy to enhance community participation and quality of life. Animal-assisted services (AAS) are a novel approach in physiotherapy to increase motivation, enjoyment and wellbeing. Our team conducted a study integrating a rehabilitation dog (Loki) into animal-assisted physiotherapy (AA-PT) for children with CP. This study presents the experiences and perspectives of children with CP who worked with Loki.MethodsInterpretive Description approach with reflective thematic analysis was used. Semi-structured interviews were completed at two timepoints: T1) single timepoint walking with Loki; T2) after an 8-week AA-PT intervention with Loki (subset of participants). ResultsAmbulatory children with CP aged 7-16 years (n = 11 (T1); n = 4 (T2)) and their caregiver (n = 11 (T1); n = 4 (T2)) participated. Three themes describing the perceived impact of working with Loki were described: 1) Connection, Relationship and Bonding; 2) Being upheld: physical support and emotional safety; 3) Empowerment Through Participation and Confidence.ConclusionChildren with CP and their caregivers reported immense enjoyment and value in having Loki present as part of the physiotherapy intervention. Centered around an immediate bond formed with Loki, the emotional and physical support children experienced improved willingness to participate in the AA-PT and in community following interactions with Loki.

Indexed as

Animal Assisted TherapyCaregiversCerebral PalsyPhysical Therapy ModalitiesAdolescentAnimalsChildDogsFemaleHumansMaleQualitative Researchanimal-Assisted servicescerebral palsyinterpretive descriptionphysical therapy modalitiesreflexive thematic analysisrehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID41277278
PMCPMC12657659

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.