Effects of Hippotherapy on Functional Ability for The Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to effects of hippotherapy on functional ability of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Fifty-seven children with CP participated were randomly divided into two groups. All of the groups received thirty minutes of conventional physical therapy program for three times a week per twelve weeks, however experimental group received additional fifteen minutes of the hippotherapy. Gross Motor Function Measure(GMFM) was used to compare the effects of hippotherapy. The results were as followings: GMFM score in dimensions A and B significantly increased in the control group after intervention. All dimensions of GMFM was significantly increased in experimental group after intervention. All dimensions of GMFM were significantly different between experimental group and control group. These results suggest that hippotherapy can be considered as a therapeutic method for physical therapy for the children with CP to improve the functional movements.