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Journals / Journal of Kocaeli Health and Technology University / 2026 / Cilt: 3 Sayı: 2

The Effect of Hippotherapy on Emotional Regulation and Social Skills in a Case with Developmental Coordination Disorder

Gelişimsel Koordinasyon Bozukluğu Olan Bir Olguda Hippoterapinin Duygusal Regülasyon ve Sosyal Beceriler Üzerine Etkisi

İbrahim Erarslan(İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi)0000-0002-0760-0223
Elif Özçelik(İSTANBUL MEDİPOL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0001-5047-5608
Fatmanur Ata(İSTANBUL MEDİPOL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0000-4609-4688
Devrim Tarakcı(İSTANBUL MEDİPOL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-9804-368X
Pages
46–60
Publication Date
2025-08-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In the studies conducted, it was concluded that occupational therapy intervention studies in the field of hippotherapy in individuals diagnosed with DCD were limited.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:The aim of this study was to examine the effects of occupational therapy-supported hippotherapy on emotional regulation and social skills in a 10-year-old patient with Developmental Coordination Disorder.
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Key Findings & Data:The study was conducted at a horse farm in Istanbul between January 2024 and March 2024.
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Conclusion & Impact:In the studies conducted, it was concluded that occupational therapy intervention studies in the field of hippotherapy in individuals diagnosed with DCD were limited.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2024 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Bağımsızlık · denge · ergoterapi

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of occupational therapy-supported hippotherapy on emotional regulation and social skills in a 10-year-old patient with Developmental Coordination Disorder. The study was conducted at a horse farm in Istanbul between January 2024 and March 2024. A patient with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) was given 10 hippotherapy sessions of 40 minutes each. The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire was used to evaluate the current coordination disorder and motor performance of the patient, the Children's Emotion Regulation Scale (CRDQ) was used to evaluate emotional regulation, and the Social Skills Assessment Scale (SSAS/7-12) was used to evaluate social skills. The tests were applied twice, before and after the 10-session intervention. The obtained data were recorded and comparisons were made. According to the evaluation results, the patient's score on the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire before hippotherapy increased from 29 to 41 after hippotherapy. It was observed that the patient's emotional regulation was more effective by increasing from 64 to 83 points on the CDRS. When the SSBS/7-12 results were examined, the average value, which was 150 before the intervention, increased to 176 after 10 sessions. Significant differences were found in all parameters of the test except the speech and instructions parameter. At the end of the study, it was observed that the patient was able to perform balance coordination more effectively in hippotherapy sessions supported by occupational therapy, his emotional regulation increased with the togetherness established on the horse and his social skills improved. In the studies conducted, it was concluded that occupational therapy intervention studies in the field of hippotherapy in individuals diagnosed with DCD were limited. It is thought that this study will contribute to the literature and will be a guide for different studies to be carried out regarding the diagnosis.

Özet

Çalışmada Gelişimsel Koordinasyon Bozukluğu olan 10 yaşındaki bir olguyla gerçekleştirilen ergoterapi destekli hippoterapinin, duygusal regülasyon ve sosyal beceriler üzerine olan etkisini incelemek amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma Ocak 2024-Mart 2024 tarihleri arasında İstanbul ilinde yer alan bir at çiftliğinde gerçekleştirildi. Gelişimsel Koordinasyon Bozukluğu (GKB) olan olguya, 40 dakika olacak şekilde 10 seans hippoterapi seansı verildi. Olgudaki mevcut koordinasyon bozukluğunu ve motor performansı değerlendirebilmek için Gelişimsel Koordinasyon Bozukluğu Anketi, duygusal regülasyonu değerlendirebilmek için Çocuklar için Duygu Düzenleme Ölçeği (ÇDDÖ) ve sosyal becerilerini değerlendirebilmek için Sosyal Becerileri Değerlendirme Ölçeği (SBDÖ/7-12) kullanıldı. Testler 10 seanslık müdahalenin öncesinde ve sonrasında olmak üzere 2 kez uygulandı. Elde edilen veriler kaydedilerek karşılaştırmalar gerçekleştirildi. Değerlendirme sonuçlarına göre, olgunun Gelişimsel Koordinasyon Bozukluğu Anketinden hippoterapi öncesinde aldığı puan 29 iken hippoterapi sonrasında 41’e yükseldi. ÇDDÖ’de ise 64 puandan 83 puana yükselerek olgunun duygusal regülasyonunu daha etkili gerçekleştirdiği gözlemlendi. SBDÖ/7-12 sonuçlarına bakıldığında ise müdahale öncesinde 150 olan ortalama değer, 10 seans sonunda 176’ya yükseldi. Testin konuşma ve yönerge parametresi haricindeki tüm parametrelerinde anlamlı farklara rastlanıldı. Çalışmanın sonunda ergoterapi destekli hippoterapi seanslarında olgunun denge koordinasyonunu daha etkili gerçekleştirebildiği, at üzerinde kurulan birliktelikle duygusal regülasyonunun arttığı ve sosyal becerilerinin geliştiği gözlemlenmiştir. Yapılan çalışmalarda GKB tanılı bireylerde hippoterapi alanında ergoterapi müdahale çalışmalarının sınırlı sayıda olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Bu çalışmanın literatüre katkı sağlamasıyla tanıya yönelik farklı çalışmaların da gerçekleştirilebileceği konusunda yol gösterici olabileceği düşünülmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Erarslan, İ., Özçelik, E., Ata, F., Tarakcı, D. (2025). The Effect of Hippotherapy on Emotional Regulation and Social Skills in a Case with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Journal of Kocaeli Health and Technology University, Cilt: 3 Sayı: 2, 46–60. https://doi.org/10.66163/jokohtu.1655618

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