Equine-Assisted Service’s Effect on Cartilage and Skeletal Biomarkers for Adults and Older Adults with Arthritis: A Pilot Study

Objective The object of this study was to determine the effect of EAS on arthritis conditions, as measured by the sTnT and COMP biomarkers, compared to an exercise attention control intervention. Design This was a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial comparing equine-assisted therapy to exercise education attention-control on cartilage and skeletal biomarkers in adults with arthritis. Twenty-one adults (Mage = 64 years) with arthritis who attended rheumatology clinics in the midwestern United States participated. Results No changes were found in sTnT from baseline to week six within either intervention nor were there differences in changes between the two groups (p = 0.91). COMP increased from baseline to week six for both conditions, suggesting increased deterioration of cartilage and joints. Although the attention-control condition demonstrated larger increases in cartilage oligomeric matrix proteins level, compared to the EAS condition, these differences were not statistically (p = 0.58) or clinically significant (i.e., trivial effect, d = -0.16). When 3 outliers were removed, the differences in changes between EAT and attention-control group could be arguably of clinical significance (d = - 0.33), suggesting that the attention-control group demonstrated larger increases in levels of COMP than those in the EAS condition, though this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.28). Conclusion Although equine-assisted therapy may reduce pain and improve quality of life for adults with arthritis, findings here are not fully corroborated with biomarkers.