Article ID: 24020
Objective: Studies have reported that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) intervention can improve patient motivation to complete rehabilitation treatment.
Methods: AAT was administered four times for a patient whose rehabilitation treatment was hindered by pain and depression following cervical myelopathy surgery. Ward nurses evaluated the patient's behavior and facial expressions before and during each AAT session using our hospital's own Faces Pain Scale. The AAT intervention was timed to coincide with the implementation of training items that were likely to induce pain.
Results: The patient, who underwent cervical myelopathy surgery and whose rehabilitation treatment was severely hindered, reported significantly improved treatment motivation after the AAT intervention. A significantly better treatment response was obtained immediately after the AAT intervention. The Faces Pain Scale score was the worst prior to starting AAT (at 5). However, it peaked at 1 and remained there from the initial intervention to the fourth and final intervention. These results suggest immediate and lasting effects of AAT.
Conclusion: Significant changes were observed after the initial AAT intervention, suggesting that its effect was more significant for the awareness of pain and motivation for rehabilitation than for pain relief.
