The Effects of Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program on Motor Skills inChildren with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Therapeutic horseback riding(THR)as an animal-assisted intervention is one of the innovative approaches emer-ging in the treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD).The current study was designed to inves-tigate the effects of a 12-week,twice a week THR program on motor skills in sixty-eight children with ASD aged 5–10 years old.All participants selected met the DSM-V criteria for ASD,and a total offifty-three participants completed the study.A randomized controlled trial design was utilized for the study.Data was collected via a pre-THR test,interim-THR test,and post-THR test to investigate the possible changes in motor skills throughout the 12-week THR program.Results showed that the THR program significantly improved overall motor skills across time points(p<0.05)and sub-skills of run,gallop and two-hand catch(as compared to the control group,p<0.05).In conclusion,the THR program may be an effective option for improving motor skills in children with ASD and further investigation with a longer period of intervention is warranted.

Application of Ji Desheng Snake Pills Combined with Hypertonic Glucose External Application in Treating Drug-Induced Superficial Phlebitis Caused by Parenteral Nutrition

Objective: The efficacy of Ji Desheng snake pills combined with hypertonic glucose external application in treating drug-induced superficial phlebitis caused by parenteral nutrition (PN) is observed. Methods: Fifty-two cases of drug-induced superficial phlebitis after peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN) were selected, which were randomly divided into experimental group and control group in accordance with the phlebitis grading. In the experimental group, Ji Desheng snake pills were crushed to make a paste with 50% glucose solution, which was then applied to the affected area of phlebitis, the surface was covered with clean gauze, and properly fixed with tape or bandage. The drug was replaced once a day. In the control group, the gauze soaked with 50% magnesium sulfate solution was used, which was applied to the affected part three times a day in wet, and the efficacy was observed respectively on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th days after applying the drug. Results: On the 1st and 3rd days after treatment, the observed effective rate of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group (42.31% vs. 15.38% and 76.92% vs. 46.15%, respectively). The difference was statistically significant (p th and 7th days after treatment, there was no statistical significance with respect to the efficacy between the experimental group and the control group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The significant efficacy could be found in early stage after drug-induced superficial phlebitis was treated by Ji Desheng snake pills combined with hypertonic glucose external application, which was superior to that of the traditional treatment of wet application by using gauze soaked in 50% magnesium sulfate solution.