Table 2 Papers involved in the systematic review and their most important characteristics

Abadi et al. 2022 [20]

autism

RCT

dog

60 min

7 weeks

20

6–14 years

physical activity

N/A

Benda et al. 2003 [21]

cerebral palsy

RCT

horse

8 min

N/A

15

4–12 years

brain activity

N/A

Brady et al. 2021 [22]

developmental delay

N/A

horse

15–30 min

N/A

N/A

2–3 years

gross motor development

N/A

Branson et al. 2017 [23]

physiological disorders

RCT

horse

10 min

10 months

48

7–17 years

salivary cortisol, CRP

anxiety, mood

Cabiddu et al. 2016 [24]

neurological disorder

trial

horse

50 min

N/A

12

4–12 years

anthropometric measurements, heart rate, respiratory rate, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), systolic and diastolic blood pressure

N/A

Calcaterra et al. 2015 [25]

unspecified, post-surgery

RCT

dog

20 min

1 occasion

40

3–17 years

physical stress

anxiety

Deutz et al. 2018 [26]

cerebral palsy

RCT

dog

16–20 min

N/A

73

5–15 years

gross motor development

quality of life

Hession et al. 2014 [27]

dyspraxia

pilot

horse

30 min

8 weeks

40

6–15 years

ambulation

cognition, mood

Hsieh et al. 2017 [28]

cerebral palsy

pilot

horse

30 min

12 weeks

14

3–8 years

body functions, activities and participation

N/A

Jang et al. 2018 [29]

attention deficit or/and hyperactivity disorder

pilot

horse

30 min

12 weeks

20

7–11 years

motor proficiency

behaviour, self-esteem

Kraft et al. 2019 [30]

neurological disorder

RCT

horse

45–60 min

12 weeks

5

2–5 years

neurodevelopmental progression

N/A

Kwon et al. 2015 [31]

cerebral palsy

RCT

horse

30 min

8 weeks

91

4–10 years

gross motor development

N/A

Lucena-Antón et al. 2018 [32]

cerebral palsy

RCT

horse

45 min

12 weeks

44

3–14 years

muscle spasticity

N/A

Machová et al. 2019 [33]

developmental dysphasia

RCT

dog

46 min

10 months

69

4–6 years

facial motricity, motor proficiency

N/A

Oh et al. 2018 [34]

attention deficit or/and hyperactivity disorder

RCT

horse

60 min

12 weeks

32

6–12 years

coordination, brain activity

self-esteem, quality of life

Park et al. 2021 [35]

cerebral palsy

RCT

horse

40 min

16 weeks

26

6–12 years

resting heart rate (RHR), peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak)

N/A

Rincón et al. 2021 [36]

severe and multiple disabilities

RCT

dog

45 min

12 weeks

14

3–12 years

postural, oculomotor, language and autonomy

N/A

Silkwood-Sherer & McGibbon 2022 [37]

cerebral palsy

RCT

horse

45 min

12 weeks

13

3–6 years

motor function

quality of life

Silkwood-Sherer et al. 2012 [38]

disabled

RCT

horse

45 min

6 weeks

16

5–16 years

motor function

N/A

Steiner & Kertesz 2015 [39]

autism

RCT

horse

30 min

4 weeks

26

10–13 years

gait analysis, skills

N/A

Žalienė et al. 2018 [40]

cerebral palsy

pilot

horse

N/A

2 weeks − 4 years

15

3–19 years

gross motor function

N/A