Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42188566›Full record

ArticleSports (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Preliminary Evidence of Motor Outcomes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Following Equine-Assisted Therapy and Dual-Task Training: A Pilot Study.

Carlo Della Valle, Giulia Di Martino, Alessio Melis, Lorenzo Persichini, Chiara De Santis Del Tavano, Claudia Cerulli, Giovanni Fiorilli, Giuseppe Calcagno, Enzo Iuliano, Alessandra di Cagno

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

10 authors.

Carlo Della ValleDepartment of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, 37314 Verona, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-5345-0045
Giulia Di MartinoDepartment of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, 00193 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1468-7491
Alessio MelisDepartment of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Lorenzo PersichiniDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00135 Rome, Italy.
Chiara De Santis Del TavanoASD Sociale "Il Giardino di Filippo-Agriland", 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
Claudia CerulliDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00135 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2637-7968
Giovanni FiorilliDepartment of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3786-7818
Giuseppe CalcagnoDepartment of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4680-1535
Enzo IulianoDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, 22060 Novedrate, Italy.
Alessandra di CagnoDepartment of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, 00193 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4517-3100

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEquine-assisted therapy (EAT) is a supportive intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

aimThis pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a cognitive-motor EAT intervention to explore its preliminary effects on motor coordination in children with ASD.

methodsA single-group pre-test-post-test design was adopted. Twelve children (mean age: 10.08 ± 1.51 years; ASD level 1-2) participated in a 16-week EAT program. The intervention integrated EAT with cognitive dual-task activities targeting attention and perceptual processing. Motor performance was assessed before and after the intervention using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2).

resultsThe RM-ANOVA examined pre-post changes. A significant improvement in the MABC-2 Total Test Score was observed (

conclusionsA cognitively enriched EAT program promoted improvements in overall motor competence in ASD children, even without measurable changes in specific motor skills. The intervention was feasible and well-tolerated, with high adherence and no adverse events. These preliminary findings support the feasibility and potential value of integrating cognitive-motor demands into EAT and provide a rationale for larger randomized controlled studies.

Indexed as

autismcognitive–motor interventionexecutive functionhippotherapymotor skillsphysical activity

Identifiers

PMID42188566
PMCPMC13210957

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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.