Visual and bibliometric analysis of interventions based on Equine-Assisted Therapy

Authors

  • Zully Rocío Rincon Rueda Universidad de Santander, Colombia
  • Jhosman Buitrago Buitrago Universidad de Santander, Colombia
  • Laura Uribe Calderon Universidad de Santander, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.03.720.360

Keywords:

Equine-Assisted Therapy, Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Research, Bibliometrics

Abstract

Background: Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) stands out for its benefits for people with various health conditions, not only disabilities but also general health issues, contributing to the development of specific competencies.

Objective: This study presents a bibliometric analysis of the literature on equine therapy, evaluating the scientific landscape, emerging trends, and collaboration networks to guide future research and practices in hippotherapy.

Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database, which includes more than 16000 scientific journals.

Results: The search, conducted between 2000 and 2024, identified 332 articles on equine therapy in rehabilitation, of which 233 met the selection criteria. Most studies were conducted in the United States, followed by Brazil and Korea. The average age of the articles is 7.21 years, and the average number of citations per document is 26.87. The most prominent journals were Pediatric Physical Therapy and Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, while authors such as Kwon Jeong-Yi and Lee Ji Young stood out for their collaborations.

Conclusion: EAT is gaining recognition as an effective intervention, especially in physical and neurological rehabilitation. The growing international collaboration and the quality of the research highlight the global interest in this area, with a significant contribution from researchers across various regions to the knowledge of the field.

Author Biographies

Zully Rocío Rincon Rueda, Universidad de Santander, Colombia

Fisioterapeuta, Universidad Industrial de Santander (Colombia). Especialista en Docencia Universitaria, Universidad Santo Tomás (Colombia). Especialista en Neurorehabilitación, Escuela Colombiana de Rehabilitación (Colombia). Magíster en Fisioterapia, Universidad Industrial de Santander. Universidad de Santander, facultad de ciencias médicas y de la salud, Bucaramanga - Colombia. zu.rincon@mail.udes.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2567-4151

Jhosman Buitrago Buitrago, Universidad de Santander, Colombia

Fisioterapeuta y magíster en Neurorehabilitación, Universidad Manuela Beltrán (Colombia). Magíster en Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Universidad Internacional de Valencia (España). Doctor en Educación, Universidad Tecnológica Latinoamericana en Línea. Universidad de Santander, facultad de ciencias médicas y de la salud, Bucaramanga - Colombia. jho.buitrago@mail.udes.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6640-0742

Laura Uribe Calderon, Universidad de Santander, Colombia

Fonoaudiologa, Universidad de Santander (Colombia). Especialista en Necesidades Educativas e Inclusión, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga (Colombia). Magíster en Neuropsicología y Educación, Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (España). Universidad de Santander, facultad de ciencias médicas y de la salud, Bucaramanga - Colombia. la.uribe@mail.udes.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7043-921X

Published

2025-08-26

How to Cite

Rincon Rueda, Z. R., Buitrago Buitrago, J., & Uribe Calderon, L. (2025). Visual and bibliometric analysis of interventions based on Equine-Assisted Therapy. SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SALUD UNINORTE, 41(3), 964–979. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.03.720.360

Issue

Section

NARRATIVE REVIEW