Effectiveness of a 6-week occupational therapy program with hippotherapy on postural control and social behavior for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Objectives: To determine the effects of a 6-week occupational therapy program with hippotherapy (HPOT) on posture, social behavior and self-regulation of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: Fifteen children diagnosed with ASD and 15 age-matched children with typical development participated in this study between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. All children took part in a 6 week, 1 × week, occupational therapy program with HPOT. Pre- and post-HPOT assessments involved the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) Scale to determine self-regulatory behavior, attention-following and initiating joint attention in a 10 min semi-structured play and standing postural control with eyes open and eyes closed on a force platform to examine postural sway. Results: Children with ASD showed significant improvements in social and communication behavior and reduced problem behaviors (ABC, SRS and play protocol). Moreover, both groups of children changed their postural control patterns, which became more evident under reduced sensory conditions i.e. eyes closed. Large effect sizes ( Conclusions: A short duration occupational therapy intervention with HPOT has a beneficial effect on posture, social and communication behavior of children with ASD. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04772898, 02/24/2021.