Equine-assisted therapy for breast-cancer survivors

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the primary cause of cancer death in females worldwide. Many studies have demonstrated the effect of exercise interventions to improve physical and psychological health in this population. In particular Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) improves depressed mood and correlated symptoms, such as lack of self-esteem, sadness, sense of guilt, loss of interest, pessimism and invites the participation of people with a wide range of physical, cognitive, and/or emotional disabilities The present study was a pilot controlled, clinical trial with the aim to evaluated the effects on the mood state of an EAT protocol in breast cancer survivors. The Ethics Board at the National Reference Center for Animal Assisted Therapies (Experimental Zoo prophylactic Institute of Venice, Italy) approved the study. Before initiating the study, all patients were given a complete verbal and written explanation about the study’s objectives, as well as the risks and benefits that were involved. All patients provided written informed consent. Ten female patients, (aged 45.61±2.71 yrs) with therapeutic treatment concluded at least six month previously, underwent a screening protocol to certify their eligibility for non-competitive sports. The patients participated in a 16 weeks EAT protocol consisting of two hours of activity per week. Patients were assessed, pre and post intervention, for the profile of mood state (POMS) through the 58 items questionnaire. All the patients showed an altered mood state profile in the pre intervention evaluation. After the intervention, the group showed a significant decrease of the total mood disturbance (from 19.60 ±24.85 to 4.30±19.30 p <0.05) with a significant decrease in tension, depression, fatigue, confusion and a significant increase in vigor subscales. The results of this study suggest that EAT has positive effects on the mood state of breast cancer survivors.