Strides in alternate therapy
Children with special needs are taking the reins and the horses they are working with are doing wonders in aiding rehabilitation and transforming their lives one step at a time.
WAN Muhammad Wan Saidi was two months premature and fell into a coma for a month at a hospital in Kota Baru.
Hoping for a miracle, his mother Che Minah Harun spent the next four years in and out of hospitals and therapies for her youngest child, hoping his brittle bones and lack of attention will gradually develop like that of an able-bodied child.
Noting the lack of improvement in her son’s condition despite her efforts, Che Minah’s doctor suggested equine therapy as treatment.
“I had heard of this form of rehabilitation but I wasn’t very sure of what it was.
“As a mother, I couldn’t stand seeing my son suffer, so I pursued the suggestion if it meant my son had a chance of living a better life,” adds the 46-year-old housewife.
No horsing around
A largely unknown form of rehabilitation in Malaysia, equine therapy, also known as horse therapy and hippotherapy by its other monikers, has been around for decades.
Horses are used within an interdisciplinary approach here, to achieve the biopsychosocial development of people with disabilities.
“The treatment utilises horses to encourage physical, psychological and educational benefits for patients with various conditions.
“Physical or occupational therapists will guide a patient’s posture and movement, balance, coordination, strength and sensorimotor systems while the patient interacts with the horse and responds to its movements while riding it,” shares Prof Nathan Vytialingam.
Various studies have observed positive outcomes on patients, especially children, when interacting with horses, adds the Perdana University School of Occupational Therapy dean.
“These include physical contact, the act of riding and final handling, developing new ways of socialising, self-confidence and selfesteem.”
Che Minah can attest to this.
Within six months of equine therapy under YOKUK – a foundation for the disabled and underprivileged, Wan Muhammad showed immense signs of progress.
“His posture improved and he could run without hurting himself so easily.
“Also, he’s become more attentive and isn’t as clueless towards instructions as he was previously,” she says.
Animals for Young founder Dr EJ Khew says equine therapy has been proven as an effective method of helping children with special needs, especially those diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
“An average horse takes 120 steps per minute, allowing 120 chances each minute for a patient to experience this unique movement that cannot be replicated by other apparatus or equipment,” he shares.
Why horses?
In addition to treating physical disorders and improving patients’ motor and sensory functions, case studies show that this unique form of rehabilitation also helps adults with depression and anxiety, adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder and children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), says Malaysian Mental Health Association president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj.
“But why horses and not other animals? “Horses are known to mirror human feelings.
“Patients have to approach them in a calm and relaxed manner, in tune to its emotional status.
“Otherwise, it would not respond positively,” he adds.
A task as simple as grooming and feeding horses has therapeutic value.
Where illnesses such as depression and anxiety is concerned, Dr Andrew says equine therapy can alter the neurochemistry of the brain, similar to the function of an antidepressant.
It can also be as effective as “talk therapy” in some cases of depression and anxiety, either on its own or in combination with medications, he adds.
Animal-assisted therapy
Not only horses, but all types of animals make for a good therapy companion, Prof Nathan emphasises.
“It has been around for at least 150 years, but only began to gain popularity in the mid 80s and has recently caught the attention of medical professionals as an alternative therapy for diverse medical conditions such as autism and stroke.”
Dr Khew agrees, stating that using animals during therapy, allows doctors to examine an area of the patient’s brain and heart that
2 most conventional method or equipment can’t.
“Animals play an important role in our lives, whether we know it or not.
“Interaction with animals does not only help us psychologically, but biologically and physically.
“By having a combination of all these benefits, therapy sessions conducted are more effective in helping us target the specific needs or areas which require improvement in a patient,” he adds.
But how does interacting with animals help someone with ADHD, for instance?
Interestingly, this form of interaction has the ability to boost one’s oxytocin, Dr Khew shares, and this hormone is vital in providing motivation to perform tasks.
“By promoting the psychological well-being of the patient, we are able to get them to perform more and subsequently, improve the area of disorder the patient is suffering from.
“Different animals are used to work on the different needs of a patient,” says, adding mals such as keys, ostriches, hamsters and worms are used.