Boto therapy - River Dolphins assisted therapy as a resource to complement of Physiotherapy. Presentation "Boto" therapy follows the model of training and rehab cognitive-perceptual that consists in to decrease or to prevent limitations with origin in Motor and Sensorial deficit if existing or not, using specific techniques. Animal-Assisted Therapy Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) characterizes by directed interventions, individuals and with specific criteria where an animal is integral part of the process of treatment. The AAT is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal is an integral part of the treatment process. Animal-assisted activities (AAA) also provide social, motivational, educational, and/or recreational benefits for people during interactions (DELTA SOCIETY, 1996). The assisted therapeutic with animals can be developed in any environment, natural or prepared, per professionals, para-profissionals and or volunteers specially trained with association of animals that attend to an specific criteria (DELTA SOCIETY, 1996). The human being has been using animals to make your life better for centuries, in the production (labor & meals) as well as to protection and company. Recently, researches show other uses/benefits of the animals to the human beings, like the AAT - Animal-assisted therapy. Between them is the hippotherapy (AAT with horses), animals at school, animals in hospitals, in rehab centre for social, physical or emotional, dog guides, dolphins assisted therapy among them. (DOTTI, 2005). According to the Brazilian pioneer Nise da Silveira, the animals assisted therapy is essential part in the treatment model that "aim the coordination of individual as a whole: body-psyche, thinking-feeling, intuition-sensation, through the creative function existent in all human being". Dolphin Assisted Therapy in world Dolphins are animals of intimacy of human being since the antiquity. Closer or no, they are represented in many ways like art and culture of human kind for centuries influence consciously or not, many parts of our being (KRISTIN, 2006). The Dolphins Assisted Therapy (DAT) is a type of complementary therapy in healthy area, known for more than 40 years in many countries. And with positive effects scientifically proved, in mood and self-esteem of patients (MARINO, 2007 HUMPHRIES, 2003; MCKINNEY, A; DUSTIN, D; WOLFF, R, 2001). In general, the DAT activities involve children in specialized playful sessions in groups or individual, with healthy care professional (e.g., a speech, occupational, or physical therapist depending on the child's disability). The children interact with trained dolphins following or anticipating by sessions of cognitive, physical, emotional or social stimulation (LUKINA, 1999; SERVAIS, 1999). The DAT sessions general purpose is to encourage children to engage in desired responses in accordance with the child's individualized therapy program (Nathanson, 1998; Nathanson, de Castro, Friend, & McMahon, 1997; Nathanson & de Faria, 1993). The dolphin-assisted therapy sessions are designed to "jump start" the child and to complement or reinforce other, more traditional, therapeutic procedures (Nathanson, 1998). DAT consists of defining a treatment goal for the individual child, such as completing a gross or fine motor task (e.g., placing a ring on a peg) or producing a language behavior (e.g., independently saying a word). Materials used as adjuncts to therapy are typically present during a DAT session, including rubber balls or rings for eliciting motor responses, or flash cards depicting objects for language responses. Children receive on-dock orientation to the dolphins, with the child and the child's therapist typically sitting at the edge of a padded floating dock about 2-3 inches above the water, while a dolphin trainer controls the movements of a dolphin in the water. During orientation, children are able to touch or play with the dolphin from the dock or to give hand signals to the dolphin to elicit specific dolphin behaviors. The AquaThought Foundation research human interacting with dolphin in two sites of USA: Atlanta and Florida. It is a respectful organization, its goal is to study and quantify the neurologic impact of dolphin-human interaction and phenomenological effect of dolphin interaction on humans. In 1996, a team of therapists formed and specialized in craniosacral by Upledger Institute in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA, began a partnership in research with the Center of Human-Dolphin Research in Gress-Kay, Florida. The goal was to determine the effect of the therapy application sacral cranio (CST) for the customers with neurological dysfunctions, where the dolphins are gifts and in physical contact. These results disclose the Inter-hemispherical integration, the increase of the neurological plasticity nets and the reduction of the out standardize cerebral waves, gifts in people with neurological dysfunctions or high levels of stress, also disclose the increase of cerebral waves found in meditating states and orgasms, corroborating with results found in other centers of research that uses the same technique in other countries (HUMPHRIES, 2003; MCKINNEY; DUSTIN, D; WOLFF, R, 2001; LUKINA. N. 1988; LIKURA, Y, SAKAMOTO, Y., IMAI, T., AKAI, L., MATSUOKA, T., 2001). The interactions with dolphins can include touching, play, short tour holding in dorsal fin, our dancing around with animal. The interactions are realized wearing life-jacket always monitored by trained professionals intimacy with dolphins. After the sessions, children and professionals from the floating dock can reward the dolphins by feeding with fish. Dolphin Assisted Therapy in Brazil It started in July 2005 at Novo Airão City and then in 2008 at ARIAÚ AMAZON TOWERS jungle lodge. Under water Interactions: be accepted by the group, imitate the animal movements, feed at the end and in the range specifications 2 to 4% of the animal weight, change the feeding by play interaction, development to touch/confidence and Nature integration. Boto (River Dolphin) Between the dolphins, the river dolphin, known in the region as "boto", has the most powerful sonar as a result of low visibility of the local rivers. The Inia Geoffrensis specie, the red dolphin, detaches per huge size of sonar and the happiness in participating in the project. Animal characteristics: born weight around 7 kg, born size 80 cm, adult weight 85 to 160 Kg, adult size 1,80 to 2,50 m, procreation season October and November, birth from May to July and lactation of 1,5 years. The red dolphin is most active in the dawn and sunset and it rests at noon, each diving takes from 30 to 40 seconds up to 3 minutes. It does not sleep, but rest reducing its metabolism relaying between the individuals of the group. Source: (SILVA, 1998). Methodology It follows the same principles of the Dolphin Assisted Therapy carried through in other countries, with adaptations and innovations for the fact of the red river dolphins (Innia Geoffrensis) are free in the nature in its natural habitat. During the of 3 days and 2 nights package, 4 interaction sessions with river dolphins and Rolfing are carried through (2 sessions in 2 days and 1 night package), manual therapeutic technique prepares body tissue of the body improving the exchanges between organism and environment, empowering the contact effect with river dolphins and improving global stimulation deriving from of extreme sonar of the animals. The therapy follows respecting the scale: patient anamnesis, Rolfing session and physiotherapy, educative lecture, approach, first contacts, acceptance, adaptation and deepening of the interactions depending on the case evolution. The therapeutic resources are adaptable to each person, and the interaction is carried through in way to respect the rhythm of all the beings involved, therapist-patient-animals, and the attendance will be become enlarged in the course. The interaction with river dolphins takes approximately 30 minutes per child, plus physiotherapy session which can be carried through in the center of interaction or in the lodge, varying as the period of training and affinity of the patient and its degree of limitation, being obligatory use of life-jackets, monitoring by the responsible person and in accordance to the patient response. Inclusion Criteria: patients in steady state of the pathology, affinity to the water and the animals, approval of the medical team (obligatory), limitation degree acceptable to the water and the interaction, adaptation to the submerged platform if necessary. Exclusion Criteria: immunologic instability, presence of wounds, fear of water, cold or fever, lack of endorsement of the medical team that already follows the patient, weather changes, and others to consulting in anamnesis. About physiotherapist and dolphins coach Igor Simões Andrade initiated its studies with dolphins in 1998 in the UFMG where he attended a course Veterinary medicine until the seventh period (not concluded) and moved to Manaus where he graduated in Physiotherapy specialized in Manual Therapies, having as main activity its work in ROLFING, technique of rehab and prevention world-wide recognized, specialized in Biomechanics, Scoliosis, Hernia and other malfunctions. He works and trains these animals since 2005 developing scientific research in this area in partnerships with agencies of Government of Amazonas State, non-profit institutions, day-care centers, etc. It is the only professional of the area of the health of the state of Amazon with abilities in interaction with the red river dolphins. Bototerapia 3 days and 2 nights (River Dolphin Assisted Therapy) 1st day Transfer from hotels of Manaus starting at 7:15 AM, following to the Pier of Tropical Hotel. From there, boat will depart at 8:00 navigating upstream Negro River up to Ariaú Towers. Arrival with welcome drinks, check-in and accommodation. Time to rest and lunch. In the afternoon, program presentation and first session of physiotherapy at therapeutic centre with interaction with river dolphins. Back at hotel, dinner and overnight. 2nd day Breakfast, transfer to the therapeutic centre for preservation and river dolphin interaction. Second physiotherapy session. Lunch and another physiotherapy session. Back at hotel, dinner and overnight. 3th day Breakfast, transfer to the therapeutic centre for preservation and river dolphin interaction. Fourth physiotherapy session. Back at hotel, lunch and trip back to Manaus. Bototerapia 2 days and 1 night (River Dolphin Assisted Therapy) 1st day Transfer from hotels of Manaus starting at 7:15 AM, following to the Pier of Tropical Hotel. From there,the boat will depart at 8:00 navigating upstream Negro River up to Ariaú Towers. Arrival with welcome drinks, check-in and accommodation. Time to rest and lunch. In the afternoon, program presentation and first session of physiotherapy at therapeutic centre with interaction with river dolphins. Back at hotel, dinner and overnight. 2nd day Breakfast, transfer to the therapeutic centre for preservation and river dolphin interaction. Second physiotherapy session. Back at hotel, lunch and trip back to Manaus. Packages & Rates Prices per person Bototerapia 3 Days/2 Nights + 10% fee Physiotherapist fee US$ 550.00 (Double Room) US$ 700.00 (Individual) Donation to Instituto ANAHATA Bototerapia 2 Days/1 Night + 10% fee Physiotherapist fee US$ 400.00 (Double) US$ 480.00 (Individual) Donation to Instituto ANAHATA * Ariaú charges in 10% of service tax in all packages values described above, extras expenses (telephone, drinks, etc) and optional excursions. * Ariaú charges R$ 2,00 per person for tourism tax. * Package includes: Transportation Manaus-Ariaú-Manaus, accommodation in air-conditioned rooms), full-board in Buffet restaurant self service style (except drinks) and therapy with dolphins sessions as described in the program. * The donation to Instituto ANAHATA are mandatory in these packages. It includes the professional creator of river dolphins assisted therapy in Brazil, Igor Simões de Andrade that carries through the interactions with the botos in therapeutic way enriched with sessions of rolfing and manual physiotherapy attended by the botos. The donation is to Instituto ANAHATA for social inclusion, environmental preservation and research. The donation will be accept in way of computer devices, physiotherapy equipment, nautical equipment (hull, motor...), diving equipment, uniform and publishing material, life-jackets, money for research, etc... Igor Simões Andrade is voluntary of the Institute and reverts its incomes for the development of the ecological Bototerapia in Brazil. * Extras: - Electric canopy cart (4 people max.) US$ 36.00 + 10% per hour. - Extra Night: US$ 156.00 per night per person (it does not include therapy sessions). Children Policy* (Package values only) Children of: 0-12 years are free. Since in the same room of the parents/responsible limited to 1 kid. The second child on minor than 12 years old has 50% off. Come to try the river dolphin therapy in the Amazon, plan your trip! [ Versão em Português ] [ Versión en español ] [ Tourist Info ] [ About us ]