Background. Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality andlong-term disability worldwide. In terms of innovative technologies which help torecover from stroke one of the newest and least researched methods is physiotherapy in the water assisted by dolphins. Such an innovative case study was conducted in Lithuania. A great variety of scientific literature on animal assisted therapies and interventions can be found worldwide, however, concerning research on human-animal interaction mechanisms a scientific gap is still existing as presented in various journals of different fields (Beetz et al., 2012).The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of healing exercisesin the water assisted by dolphins for motor skills of patients with haemorrhagicstroke.Methods. The study was carried out at the Dolphin Therapy Centre of the Lithuanian Sea Museum. The study lasted two weeks. The sample was a man diagnosed with a haemorrhagic stroke. The research data was collected on motor skills in the water, leg muscle strength, coordination, balance and gait. The patient participated in ten therapeutic activities in the water, assisted by dolphins (length of one activity – 30 minutes). The physiotherapist working with the patient applied balance and coordination exercises in the water. The status of the patient was evaluated four times: before activities with dolphins, after five activities with dolphins, after ten activities with dolphins, and follow up in three weeks after ending the activities with dolphins.Results. The muscle strength of legs increased significantly in the foot groupand slightly in the lower limb muscle group. The greatest result in balance wasregistered after ten therapeutic activities with dolphins in the water. The greatest improvement in coordination and walking occurred later. Assessing motor skills in the water, a significant positive change in equilibrium was observed.Conclusions. The results of the study showed that physiotherapy exercisesin the water assisted by dolphins might help to achieve improvements in motorskills.Keywords: haemorrhagic stroke, motor skills in the water, balance, gait, therapeutic activities for assisting dolphins, physiotherapy in water.

The aim of this research was to assess the effect of dolphin assisted specialized aquatic program applied in rehabilitation of psychomotor functions of persons after hemorrhagic stroke. The research was carried out in 2018 in Lithuania. Two persons with diagnosed hemorrhagic stroke have been surveyed. In the course of the investigation, the effect of aquatic dolphin assisted physical activities on coordination of arms, legs without using balance was assessed; static and dynamic change of dynamics, the effect on gait in water with dolphins were assessed. Additionally, the data on life quality aspects obtained by the SF-36 questionnaire was investigated. It is observed that after application of aquatic dolphin assisted therapeutic activities improvement of both static and dynamic balance has been recorded; three weeks later, most indicators remained the same. The conducted research revealed that therapy had a highly beneficial effect on persons with neurological diseases in terms of assessment of their dynamic balance, gait and gait speed (motor skills) as well as quality of life. Significant changes of motor skills in water in both surveyed individuals have been recorded. Therapeutic aquatic dolphin assisted activities are an effective method to improve the parameters of balance, gait and quality of life in patients; however, psycho-emotional and psycho-social factors, such as support of the social network supplementing continuing therapeutic activities, are a highly significant factor in ensuring further improvement of patient’s condition.