Impact of dog-assisted therapy on biomechanical and functional parameters in adults with autism spectrum disorder: A non-randomized controlled trial

Dog-assisted therapy (DAT) is a complementary therapy that can lead to several therapeutic benefits in different populations, but little investigation has been made about its benefits in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Thus, the present study aimed to explore the biomechanical and functional benefits of DAT in adults with ASD. The study was a non-randomized controlled clinical trial following the CONSORT guidelines, in which 25 adults with ASD participated. Twelve of them were involved in a dog-assisted intervention twice a week with a multidisciplinary team for 10 weeks. Results showed a within-group improvement in the gait (p = 0.041), balance (p = 0.020) and risk of falling (p = 0.022) of adults with ASD who completed dog-assisted intervention. However, no differences were found with the control group. Regarding the number of falls, all the adults who experienced a fall before de DAT decreased its number after the intervention. These results suggest the potential of DAT to address physical problems in groups of patients with difficulties or severe disabilities.