Dolphin therapy
Dolphin therapy is within the methods used in zootherapy, being a group of methods for physical and emotional rehabilitation, whereby the animals play a fundamental role in the treatment of multiple disorders. As part of zootherapy, there is the treatment with dolphins, docile, intelligent animals, highly effective in these types of treatment for body and soul.
Dolphins are animals that may help people, whether physically or emotionally, in different ways, since the dolphin emits ultrasonic waves of different types, circulating throughout the body of the person being treated and that operate beneficially on the nervous system.
Dolphin therapy may be applied to babies starting from five to six months old, having no age restrictions whatsoever as a maximum age. Patients are being constantly watched by specialized professionals, and the animals used in these therapies are docile, well trained and used to the contact with people. Dolphins more used are from the species tursciops truncatus, also known as “bottlenose”.
Specialists in dolphin therapy explain that the ultrasonic waves emitted by these friendly animals, generate endorphins and other substances that aid to improve connection between neurons, and besides foster the functioning of both brain hemispheres. Neurological changes and neurochemical ones generated are translated in several physical benefits, emotional and intellectual ones, such as the boost on the immune system, motor coordination, in mood, social contact and in language. One of the most commonly studied phenomenon with regard to dolphin therapies is their didactical potential, especially in the learning skills in Down syndrome kids, having being observed that these kids, once interacting with the dolphins, they have learned from 2 to 10 times faster than those in control groups with no dolphin interaction, and in 50% of the cases, they were able to retain such lessons even a year after therapy had taken place.
Treatment with dolphin therapy is also recommended for people with nervous system illnesses, cancer, mental problems, and motor disabilities, whether acquired or inherited.
In the treatment sessions, the dolphin allows the people to touch it, besides letting contact with different parts of the person’s body, such as: spine, hands, soles, etc. transmitting in this way, alpha, beta and theta ultrasonic waves. Sessions in the water may last from 15 up to 20 minutes. Usually, they are complemented with other activities as cognitive exercises, massages or any other activity that the therapist deems convenient, depending on the case. At the end of the treatment, and the number of sessions indicated by the therapist, the balance from the results obtained is made, which will determine if it should be necessary to repeat it or not, since the effect by the obtained stimuli lasts several months after completing the process.
Whether caused by health reasons or just by simply wanting to explore about this experience, with no doubts, a contact of this nature with these wonderful animals will be an unforgettable enjoyment.
Procedure:
The steps to take for the treatment of a kid are the following ones:
Patient’s collection of data,
Family background, medical diagnoses and drugs prescribed.
Patient’s assessment, description of the treatment to follow and goals to reach.
When patient is being placed into the water, there is an adaptation period, based on the water’s physical properties. This adaptation period is as follows:
1.1- Mental adaptation: Always introduce the kid while being hold by the therapist, splashing the head to assure the kid the water is harmless.
1.2- Separation: By releasing the kid and then holding the kid back into the arms of the therapist to generate the kid’s self confidence, and to avoid the therapist from becoming a lifeguard, either mental or physical.
1.3- Rotation: By putting the patient in the same positions we are going to be using in the water to execute the therapy
1.4- Equilibrium: By teaching how to keep harmony and calmness.
1.5- Moving above the water: Showing the kid that he/she may move above the water effortlessly.
1.6- Moving under water:
Showing the kid that, by submerging under the water, nothing bad will happen to him/her nor the therapist.
1.7- Relaxation techniques: Executing a series of exercises, to reach a total relaxation before starting the therapy.
1.8- Individual movement: Supported by an additional floating device, different from the therapist.
After the previous steps, the adaptation continues, but now directed towards the dolphin, where the patient will be approached to the dolphin, for kissing, touching and in this way to start with the stimulation and integration of the therapy’s 3 basic elements.
