Using Dogs to Help Children with Brain Injuries Engage in Rehabilitation
Using Dogs to Promote Therapeutic Engagement During Inpatient Rehabilitation Following Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury: Understanding Mechanisms and Moderators of Treatment Response
This project explores how bringing dogs into therapy sessions might help children aged 4-21 with acquired brain injuries participate more actively in their inpatient rehabilitation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141715 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are looking at whether animal-assisted therapy, specifically with dogs, can make physical and occupational therapy more engaging for children recovering from a brain injury. Children will participate in a crossover approach, meaning they will experience both regular therapy and therapy sessions that include a dog. We will compare how well they engage in both types of sessions to understand if the presence of a dog makes a difference. This helps us learn if animal-assisted therapy can improve how children use their rehabilitation time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 4-21 who are currently receiving inpatient rehabilitation for an acquired brain injury.
Not a fit: Patients not undergoing inpatient rehabilitation for an acquired brain injury would not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make rehabilitation more enjoyable and effective for children with acquired brain injuries, potentially leading to better long-term recovery.
How similar studies have performed: While animal-assisted therapy has shown promise in various settings, this specific crossover approach to understand its mechanisms in pediatric acquired brain injury rehabilitation is a novel and focused effort.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Narad, Megan — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Narad, Megan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.