Horses and Education as Arthritis Therapy

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Arthritis

In brief

A study will be conducted to assess if adults and older adults with arthritis who ride horses are able to move better, have less pain, enjoy nature more and have a better quality of life then people who go to class to learn about exercise. This is needed because adults with arthritis experience joint pain, stiffness, damage to their cartilage, and decreased range of motion in their hips, knees, shoulders, and back. This study will measure effects on patient's joints, pain, quality of life, muscle and cartilage before and after either arthritis exercise education or horse riding. Horses have unique movements that target joints without weight bearing and possibly show improvements without joint damage. Twenty two subjects will be assigned to either the equine-assisted therapy (EAT) group or a group receiving exercise education for 1 hour each week for 6 weeks. Outcomes of pain, joint mobility and quality of life are measured at 0, 3 and 6 weeks. Enjoyment will be determined by a survey. Safety procedures include helmets, side walking attendants for balance, and controlled by a certified riding instructor at a certified riding center. Data will be gathered and reviewed, to assess the effects of EAT on arthritis.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03141853

Run by

University of Missouri, Kansas City

People needed

21

Starts

2017-05-20

Expected to finish

2017-12-20

Last updated by the study team

2018-01-24

Who can join

Age: 45 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Ages 45 and older
• Joint pain inclusion will be considered with a mild [Mild pain (0-44)] to moderate pain level [Moderate pain (45-74 mm)] (Hawker, Mian, Kendzerska, \& French, 2011) not completely relieved by medications.
• Measured decreased range of motion by 20% (back, shoulder, knee and hip) and hip abduction wide enough to straddle a horse without discomfort.
• Written physician's or advanced practice registered nurse's (APRN) clearance to ride a horse.
• Ability to read and understand English as evidenced by the capacity to follow verbal and written directions at the screening interview.

You may not qualify if…

• Self-reported: fear of horses.
• Self reported allergies to horses.
• Self reported osteoporosis.
• Inability to abduct hips wide enough to straddle a horse comfortably.
• Lack of transportation to the Therapeutic Riding Center.
• Horse riding for the previous six months.

Where it is running

• Due West Therapeutic Riding Center — Kansas City, Kansas, United States
• Kansas City Physician's Partners — Kansas City, Missouri, United States
• Saint Luke's College of Health Sciences — Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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