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. 2017 Sep 30;21(3):35-42.
doi: 10.20463/jenb.2017.0018.

Hippotherapy and neurofeedback training effect on the brain function and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor level changes in children with attention-deficit or/and hyperactivity disorder

Namju Lee  1 , Sok Park  2 , Jongkyu Kim  3
Affiliations

Hippotherapy and neurofeedback training effect on the brain function and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor level changes in children with attention-deficit or/and hyperactivity disorder

Namju Lee et al. J Exerc Nutrition Biochem. .

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hippotherapy and electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback on brain function and blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in children with attention-deficit or/and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: Sixteen children with ADHD participated in this study and were randomly divided into 2 groups, a 1-time hippotherapy group (W1G, n = 8) and a 2-time hippotherapy group (W2G, n = 8). All the participants attended 8 weeks of hippotherapy program in the primary training, and then 7 children with ADHD attended 8 weeks of hippotherapy program combined with neurofeedback training in the secondary training. Blood BDNF levels were measured, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed. The EEG neurofeedback training program was used to train and measure psychological factors.

Results: The combined effect of hippotherapy and neurofeedback on BDNF level showed a decreased tendency in W1G (pretraining, 1766.03 ± 362.54 pg/ml; posttraining, 1630.65 ± 276.70 pg/ml). However, the BDNF level of W2G showed an increased tendency (pretraining, 1968.28 ± 429.08 pg/ml; posttraining, 1976.28 ± 425.35 pg/ml). Moreover, combined training showed a significant group x repetition interaction in W1G (pretraining, 1436.57 ± 368.76 pg/ml; posttraining, 1525.23 ± 346.22 pg/ml; F = 3.870, p = 0.039). fMRI results showed that the left thalamus activity in both groups had a decreased tendency and a significantly lower change in W2G than in W1G (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study confirmed a significant increase in blood BDNF level after combined training, which may induce brain function improvement in children with ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; Brain function; Hippotherapy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Primary training
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Combined secondary training
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Change in serum BDNF level after primary training
Figure 4.
Figure 4.. Change in serum BDNF level after combined secondary training
Figure 5.
Figure 5.. Brain function image produced using fMRI image recording
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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