Investigation of hippotherapy's effect on the life quality of children with autism: Application of therapeutic recreation

This study was conducted to investigate the Hippotherapy's effect on the life quality of children with autism. A total of 80 children with autism, 40 experimental-40 control groups with the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, participated in the study. The research was conducted in a comparative experimental type with pretest/posttest experimental-control groups. Children with autism received a total of 8 weeks of hippotherapy, two days a week and one hour a day. In order to determine the life quality of children, The Quality of Life Scale for Children was used in the study. In the analysis stage; percentage distribution, paired t test and independent t test were performed. In the qualitative part of the research; "Semi-Structured Interview Form" was developed by the researcher in order to determine the situation oriented fixations of instructors participating in the hippotherapy application process and expert opinion was taken in the formation of the questions. It was determined that the divergence between the 'QoL-C' pre-test and post-test point average of the children in the control group was not statistically significant (p>0,05). A statistically significant divergence was found between the 'QoL-C' pretest and posttest point average of the children in the experimental group (p<0,05). It has been extrapolated that the application of hippotherapy to children increases the physical health and psychosocial health levels of children and hippotherapy has an important role on the children's life quality. As a therapeutic recreation, hippotherapy can be expanded as an adjunct therapy. Key Words: Hippotherapy, Autism, Therapeutic Recreation, Life Quality