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Revista Psicopedagogia
versão impressa ISSN 0103-8486
Resumo
SILVA, Flaviana Gomes da et al. The effects of horseback riding on cognitive functions in children and adolescents. Rev. psicopedag. [online]. 2023, vol.40, n.123, pp.324-333. Epub 26-Ago-2024. ISSN 0103-8486. https://doi.org/10.51207/2179-4057.20230031.
Objective
To investigate the effects of classical horseback riding on cognitive functions in socially vulnerable children and adolescents.
Methods
This is a pre-experimental research, with cognitive functions’ evaluation pre and post practice of horseback riding. There were 70 participants (48 children,22 adolescents, 38 girls/ 32 boys), the riding time ranged from 7 to 12 months (mean = 9.5 months, ±: 1.87) and mean 69,24 (±12.89) riding lessons. All underwent neuropsychological evaluation at the beginning and at the end of the project. Cognitive functions were assessed using the NEUPSILIN Neuropsychological Assessment Instrument. The participants practiced classical horseback riding twice a week, with a duration of 2h30, conducted by the riding instructor. Statistical analysis used McNemar (categorical variables) and Wilcoxon test for analysis of continuous variables, tests with p<0.05 for evaluation of cognitive functions pre and post riding.
Results
There was a significant improvement (p<0.05) in neuropsychological assessment after time, with better performance in the tasks of orientation, working memory, delayed recall, oral language, inference processing and verbal fluency.
Considerations
It is possible to infer that the practice of horseback riding contributed to the cognitive gains of children and adolescents in situations of social vulnerability.
Palavras-chave : Equine-Assisted Therapy; Social Vulnerability; Neuropsychology; Attention; Cognition.