MOTOR DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME IN THE TREATMENT OF EQUINE THERAPY

Abstract

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a change in pair of chromosome 21 and that leads to an inadequate distribution chromosome during meiosis stage. Each cell of the normal individual has 46 chromosomes while in Down syndrome has 47 chromosomes. The equine therapy is a treatment on the horse and with the horse that contributes to the overall development of the practitioner; the stimuli caused by equinetherapy will intervene in global development practitioners. Purpose: Verify if the equine therapy benefits the motor development for children with Down syndrome. Methods: We conducted a literature review using the databases Lilacs, Scielo, PubMed, Medline and Bireme with articles between the years 2000 to 2013. Results: We found 26 articles in total, 14 of them were included and 12 excluded for different reasons. Conclusions: The equine therapy is beneficial for motor development of children with Down syndrome exploring the systems, visual, vestibular, proprioceptive and somatosensory, thereby improving balance, it will be also required to maintain muscle strength and coordination, improving gait.