EFFECT OF DOLPHIN THERAPY ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS LEVELS OF CHILDREN WITH NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISABILITY

Authors

  • J F Belmonte-Parralo Ejercicio libre de la Fisioterapia. Almería. España Author
  • V Ibáñez-Rojo Complejo Hospitalario Torrecárdenas. Almeria. España Author
  • F J Muñoz-Vico Complejo Hospitalario Torrecárdenas. Almeria. España Author

Keywords:

animal assisted therapy, cortisol, disability.

Abstract

 Introduction: this pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of dolphin therapy sessions on children with neuropsychiatric disabilities. The study focuses on the changes produced on a physiological level by dolphin interaction. Objective: to take saliva samples before and after each session to analyze them and measure cortisol levels as an indirect measure of physiological stress. Material and method: dolphin therapy sessions were given to 15 children between 0-18 years of age at the Selwo Marina Malaga in June 2012. They consisted of 3 individual sessions per child. Each session lasted approximately 25 minutes with active participation of a physiotherapist, a trainer, a dolphin, a child and an auxiliary member of the staff. Daily and pre/post - treatment saliva samples were taken to measure cortisol levels (2 samples per day per child). Result: the analysis revealed that cortisol levels decreased from the first day, being statistically significant from the third day. Conclusion: this study reveals that the levels of cortisol decrease after interaction with dolphins and as a result physiological stress is also reduced.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2018-02-28

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 1 (2018): Year 2018, Volume 47, Issue 1

Section

Original

License

You are free to:

  1. Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
  2. Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
  3. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

  1. Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  2. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

How to Cite

Belmonte-Parralo , J. F., Ibáñez-Rojo , V., & Muñoz-Vico , F. J. (2018). EFFECT OF DOLPHIN THERAPY ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS LEVELS OF CHILDREN WITH NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISABILITY. Cuestiones De Fisioterapia, 47(1), 30-38. http://cuestionesdefisioterapia.es/index.php/cf/article/view/176