The Role of Animal-Human Bonding in Pain Management

A Loyola University study reveals that animal assisted therapy reduced the need for oral pain medication following total joint replacement therapy. The study retrospectively compared a group of subjects who were given AAT as part of treatment vs. a group that did not benefit from such therapy.
In conclusion, those who were given animal therapy had a reduced need for medication-- 28 percent less, to be exact! The two groups were similar in composition with respect to age, ethnicity, etc..the only difference was that the AAT group had daily visits with specially trained dogs, for a duration of somewhere between 5 and 15 minutes per visit. The study was published in the August/September issue of Anthrozoos, the official journal of Anthrozoology.

Once again, we see that health, healing, and relief from chronic pain can be enhanced by forces aside from traditional medical treatment. The bond between humans and animals is powerful, and can be of great benefit to all who are willing to embrace it!

Sources: Newswise,Wikipedia

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Living with Chronic pain hits the big screen!

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Everyday pain management ideas

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