Effects of hippotherapy on posture in individuals with Down Syndrome

Ana Paula Espindula,Luciane Aparecida Pascucci Sande De Souza,Vicente De Paula Antunes Teixeira,Mara Lúcia Da Fonseca Ferraz,Mariane Fernandes Ribeiro,Alex Abadio Ferreira

doi:10.1590/1980-5918.029.003.ao07

Ana Paula Espindula, Luciane Aparecida Pascucci Sande De Souza + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5918.029.003.ao07

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Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have alterations that affect the musculoskeletal system, causing abnormal patterns, and alter the morphological anatomical and mechanical axes that provide intrinsic stability to the skeleton, and can trigger misalignments and orthopedic disorders in adulthood. Objective: The objective of student to evaluate posture and postural alignment before and after the hippotherapyin individuals with DS. Methods: Posture of five individuals with DS was evaluated by the software SAPO before and after 27 sessions the hippotherapy. Data were subjected to qualitative descriptive analysis using cluster and statistical analysis with the aid of the software Sigma Stat 2.0, considering differences as statistically significant at p-value < 5%. Results: Improvements were achieved for the alignment of shoulder, head, hip, and lower limbs, in addition to decrease in kyphosis and head protrusion. Conclusion: Patients with DS demonstrated satisfactory changes in motor behavior reflected in improved static posture after treatment with hippotherapy.

Highlights

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have alterations that affect the musculoskeletal system, causing abnormal patterns, and alter the morphological anatomical and mechanical axes that provide intrinsic stability to the skeleton, and can trigger misalignments and orthopedic disorders in adulthood
This study aimed to evaluate the posture before and after hippotherapy treatment in individuals with DS. This was a longitudinal observational study approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), protocol 1502 of 2010, and the assessment methods and intervention protocols followed the rules of Resolution 196/96 of the National Health
There was a good grouping, after the sessions, of the distances: from the right acromion to the right anterior superior iliac spine and from the left acromion to the left anterior superior iliac spine (Figures 3a and 3b). This inding was con irmed by statistical analysis, represented in the right hemibody (p = 0.0005) (Table 1a)

Summary

Introduction

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have alterations that affect the musculoskeletal system, causing abnormal patterns, and alter the morphological anatomical and mechanical axes that provide intrinsic stability to the skeleton, and can trigger misalignments and orthopedic disorders in adulthood. Objective: The objective of student to evaluate posture and postural alignment before and after the hippotherapyin individuals with DS. Methods: Posture of ive individuals with DS was evaluated by the software SAPO before and after 27 sessions the hippotherapy. Conclusion: Patients with DS demonstrated satisfactory changes in motor behavior re lected in improved static posture after treatment with hippotherapy. Most individuals with DS has muscle hypotonia caused by decreased segmental excitability of motor neurons and by impaired stretch reflex, generating a decreased sensorimotor control. This causes a slow or ineffective muscle contraction [4]. Postural changes in DS may occur due to the difficulty of perception of postural responses, which impairs the feeling of the movement correctly [5]

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