title: Therapeutic horseback riding in breast cancer survivors: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the physiologic and psychological effects of an equine-assisted therapy protocol (EAT) in breast cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty women (mean age, 45.61±2.71 years) whose breast cancer treatment had concluded at least 6 months previously underwent a screening protocol to certify their eligibility to participate in noncompetitive sports. The patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=10) or a control group (n=10). Intervention patients participated in a 16-week EAT protocol consisting of 2 hours of activity per week. All patients were tested before and after the intervention for maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), fat mass percentage, total body water percentage, strength of principal muscular groups (measured on five weight-lifting machines [leg press, leg extension, leg curl, shoulder press, vertical traction]), and quality of life using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue questionnaire (FACIT-F).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After intervention, the intervention group showed an improvement in VO2max (28.29%; p<.001), a decrease in fat mass percentage (change, -7.73%; p<0.002), an increase in total body water percentage (6.90%; p=0.027), and an increase in strength (leg press, 17.75% [p=0.018]; leg extension, 21.55% [p=0.005]; leg curl, 26.04% [p<0.001]; shoulder press, 49.72% [p=0.003]; vertical traction, 19.27% [p=0.002]). Furthermore, the increase in the three FACIT-F scores (FACIT-F trial outcome: 9.29% [p=0.010]; Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General total score, 14.80% [p=0.022]; FACIT-F total score, 11.48% [p=0.004]) showed an increase in quality of life. No significant changes for any variable were found for the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EAT had positive effects on both physiologic and psychological measures, enhancing quality of life of breast cancer survivors. RESULTS suggest a new method for rehabilitation intervention strategies after cancer in a nonmedical environment.
authors: 1 Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of Rome Foro Italico , Rome, Italy .
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Cerulli
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Minganti
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: De Santis
authors: Eliana
authors: E
authors: Tranchita
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Quaranta
authors: Attilio
authors: A
authors: Parisi
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D001834:Body Water; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D056147:Equine-Assisted Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*