CANANE-ASSISTED THERAPY IN NEUROREHABILITATION OF PATIENTS AFTER STROKE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/pub.health.2026.1.12Keywords:
rehabilitation, canine-assisted therapy, stroke, depression, balanceAbstract
Topicality. Rehabilitation after stroke is a long-term process of restoring lost functions, which requires long-term inpatient neurorehabilitation; it can last up to several months and lead to significant economic costs. During the rehabilitation period, patients often have problems with gait, balance, muscle weakness and emotional state, which significantly complicate everyday life. Studies show that 80% of patients experience depression, and 60% experience a significant loss of motivation for rehabilitation. A strong range of emotions associated with the loss of acquired skills in patients after stroke can disrupt physiological functions due to the development of high levels of stress and bad mood.
The goal of the study is to assess the effectiveness of therapy with the involvement of dogs in the process of neurorehabilitation, in particular its impact on the psychological recovery of patients after stroke.
Materials and methods. Functional balance was determined using the Berg balance scale, the level of depression was determined using the Beck Depression Inventory-II, adapted for post-stroke patients; motivation for rehabilitation was measured using the motivation scale (K-SRMS).
Research results. The study involved 13 patients aged 52,4±11,3 years, with the consequences of a stroke (post-stroke period > 6 months). Sessions lasted once a week for 8 weeks. Gait indicators after canister therapy in the main group are better than in the control group. A fairly high and reliably significant indicator was observed with a symmetry index of 86,20±6,10 compared to the control group of 79,88±6,45 (p<0,05); and movement cadence - basic 107,28±10,30 versus 88,90±13,50 in the control group (p<0,05). According to the scales and criteria, it was found that therapy with dogs had a positive effect on the mental state of patients. The Rehabilitation Motivation Scale (K-SRMS) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) showed significantly better statistical data in the main group compared to the control group.
Conclusion. Animal-assisted therapy not only benefits the individual patient, but may also reduce the burden on the healthcare system by minimizing the length of hospital stay and allowing for earlier discharge.
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