Horse-assisted therapy for balance in the elderly: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Horse therapy is a technique that has long been used mainly for balance training in children. However, the effect on the balance of the elderly is not well known, which is why it is considered an innovative topic for the field of rehabilitation nursing. Objective: To identify current scientific evidence on the effectiveness of horse-assisted therapy programmes in maintaining body balance in the elderly. Methodology: Systematic Literature Review, according to the methodology proposed by the JBI. A search was made for studies dated between 2011 and 2022, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, using the following databases: Medline/Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL complete and PEDro. Two independent reviewers carried out the critical appraisal, extraction, and synthesis of the data. Results: Three randomised, controlled studies were included, showing a reduction in the risk of falls in elderly people undergoing horse therapy programmes, improving their quality of life. The results were assessed using the Time up and go (TUG) test, the Berg balance scale, the Functional Reach Test (FRT), the BPM system (SMS Healthcare software) - static balance, and the AP1105 platform - dynamic balance. All the studies concluded that the three-dimensional movement of the horse is fundamental to these results. Conclusion: Horse-assisted therapy (HAT) has been shown to be effective in preventing falls in the elderly. Considering the rehabilitation nurses´ competences, it is possible that they could play a fundamental role in the horse-assisted therapy team.