Hippotherapy found to improve balance, strength, endurance in children with cerebral palsy, due to the rhythmic movements

A study presented to the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP) has found that robotically-assisted hippotherapy may enhance trunk control and quality of life for children with cerebral palsy.

• Hippotherapy, according to the researchers, is one of the most effective types of therapy that can help enhance balance, strength, endurance, and ultimately function and quality of life of cerebral palsy patients. However, its access is limited.
• Thus, researchers developed a horseback riding simulator for children with neurologic and musculoskeletal disabilities.
• The simulator, which includes a motion platform, carousel horse, and tracking system, emphasizes on boosting a child’s ability to maintain control of his or her torso, the body’s core or trunk.
• Moreover, researchers developed a virtual reality display, which simulates a horse riding along a pier, allowing the child to play games while riding the horse.
• Five healthy participants first accomplished a reach test to determine their ability to control their torsos through a trunk control measurement. Then, they were given four simulated therapy sessions. These were then performed by the two children with cerebral palsy.
• The participants had a five-minute warm up, which was supervised by a physical therapist who gave cues to encourage upright trunk positioning and proper equilibrium reactions.
• Next, the participants played two different games: one game tested their ability to control their posture while keeping their horse in the middle of the pier; the other tested their trunk control and assessed their ability to control their posture, enabling them to balance while multitasking.
• The researchers then worked with every participant to ride without upper body support and encouraged them to reach for toys or give high-fives to push the boundaries of trunk control.
• Results showed that trunk control and weight shift in cerebral palsy patients improved and they appeared to be balancing in a way similarly to that of the healthy children.
• The findings were presented at the AAP’s 2018 Annual Meeting held last February 13 to 17 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Overall, the findings of the study indicate that simulated hippotherapy may improve trunk control and strength in children with cerebral palsy.

Journal Reference:

Association of Academic Physiatrists. “SIMULATED HORSEBACK RIDING HELPFUL IN TREATING CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY.” NewsWise.com. NewsWise, 12 February 2018. <http://www.newswise.com/articles/simulated-horseback-riding-helpful-in-treating-children-with-cerebral-palsy>.