Kontakt 2009, 11(2):413-423 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.064

The use of canistherapy in a child with hyperkinetic syndromeHealth and Social Sciences

Alena Lejčarová¹, Martina Skálová²

¹ Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Fakulta tělovýchovy a sportu

² Nemocnice Na Homolce, Praha

Canistherapy has its justified position among other therapeutic approaches. It contributes to the development of motoricity, stimulates verbal as well as non-verbal communication and provides a possibility of relaxation. Dogs stimulate the play and motion, contribute to the mental equilibrium, improve emotional condition, are able to fulfil a role of a mediator between clients and therapists, and in the case of sensitive approach, they help remove certain types of phobia (fear of animals, of body contacts, of communication, of loneliness, etc.). The target of the work presented here was to find whether a boy with hyperkinetic syndrome aged six year can be calmed, is able to work and relax in the course of a canistherapeutic lesson, and if yes, for what period of time. We furthermore tried to find whether his emotional condition will be changed in the course of the lesson. The research is based on a structured observation technique, which was implemented in the course of ten subsequent lessons at an interval of one week except the time when the child was ill. The observation was repeated to check whether the therapy exerts long-term effects. For the evaluation of the effect of canistherapy on the parameters followed, two independent observers used a five-grade scale. Thanks to the canistherapeutic action, there was a decrease in the intensity of the motor restlessness of the boy, who was able to develop concentration on the given task for a time period longer by at least 50% with the dog compared to the situation without the dog. The long-term canistherapeutic effects resulted in an increase in the type of the boy concentration on the activity by more than 10 min. After the canistherapeutic lessons, the boy was satisfied and he always more intensively enjoyed the communication with his surroundings; in two lesions, there was even a considerable improvement of his emotional condition. The contribution of canistherapy within the framework of the boy rehabilitation programme was obvious, but it is to emphasize that the data accumulated and conclusions derived cannot be generalized to the whole population of children with hyperkinetic syndrome, since in individuals with identical diagnosis, there are considerable differences in effects of the dog.

Keywords: canistherapy; relaxation positions; hyperactivity; hyperkinetic syndrome; dog

Received: September 14, 2009; Accepted: November 18, 2009; Published: December 18, 2009  Show citation