Physical activity with horses as a therapeutic means to improve the functional capacity and quality of life of the elderly and those affected by Fibromyalgia syndrome: The Centauro Method as an intervention training program

Aging implies a decrease in functional capacity of people, resulting in a decline in their quality of life. Fibromyalgia syndrome affected also share the same symptoms as older people, mainly when we are talking about functionality. Daily physical exercise is a good practice to relieve the aging and fibromyalgia effects. In this study, a physical activity program has been designed using the horse as patients’ support, the Centauro Method, which will let us improve their functional capacity and consequently, the quality of life of the patients could be better. The aims of this study are: Analyze changes related to the functional and psychological physical condition, and improving the quality of life of older people and fibromyalgia syndrome affected, using The Centauro Method. Validate The Centauro Method as a training-intervention program in both different affectations groups. Methods: The functional capacity was measured by a battery of physical tests (6MWT, modified Sit and Reach, Timed Get Up and Go, Up and Down Stairs, Handgrip, Purdue Pegboard) and psychological tests (GDS, POMS, CUBRECAVI, BDI, FHAQ, STAI). All the participants, elderly and fibromyalgia patients, were randomized into two groups, the experimental group, where we developed 32 sessions of The Centauro Method; and the control group, where no other extra programmed activities were done. Before and after intervention data were measured. Results: In the elderly people group, all the results reflect they have improved their initial level, except for Left Hand Dynamometry Test. In the fibromyalgia group, all the results, without exception, have been improved as well as elderly group. Their improvements have been reached in the field of psychological condition, have to be hightlighed. Conclusions: In sight of the results, we can conclude that we have achieved the aims of this study. The improvements which have been evaluated, in both groups and in all the areas, show the effectiveness of the Centaur Method that it is carried out to improve the physical, the perceptual-motor and the psychological condition. At the same time, this program has been validated as training- intervention program for both, elderly and fibromyalgia group. From the pre-intervention to post-intervention, the participants have achieved a good improvement, which undoubtedly is related to the training- intervention program because there have not had any general improvements where there has not performed any intervention. It is remarkable that the positive results give strength to program validation. Therefore, it is talking about an experimental validation through a practice checking. In addition, the Centauro Method is shown as a useful pedagogical tool, because it sets up aims, carries out specific activities, as well as the process and the results are evaluated by different tests.