Abstract
There is still a lack of studies focused on trunk neurorehabilitation. Accordingly, it is unclear which therapeutic modalities are the most effective in improving static/dynamic balance after brain damage. We designed a pilot study on hippotherapy to assess its short- and mid-term effect on dynamic postural balance in patients with moderate-to-severe sensorimotor impairment secondary to cerebral palsy. Five patients aged 15.4 ± 6.1 years old were recruited. All of them had moderate-to-severe alterations of the muscle tone with associated postural balance impairment. Standing and walking were also impaired. Ten minutes horse riding simulator followed by twenty minutes hippotherapy session were conducted during five session days separated by one week each. We analyzed the displacement of the Center of Pressure (COP) on the sitting surface of the simulator’s saddle by means of a customized pressure pad. We measured the general behavior of the COP displacement as well as the postural adjustments when pace changed from walk to trot to walk during the sessions and among sessions. Statistical analysis revealed an improved postural control both by the end of the session and from session 1 to session 5. These results suggest that hippotherapy might support regularization of postural control in a long-term neurorehabilitation context.
Highlights
Postural control is the intrinsic ability to restore balance from any position or during any motor activity resulting in a final motor adjustment process [1]
The present study aimed to investigate the contribution of the horse-riding simulator combined withThe hippotherapy, i.e.,aimed an unstable support surface approach forhorse-riding trunk neurorehabilitation, to the present study to investigate the contribution of the simulator combined overall improvementi.e., of dynamic postural control in patients withfor sensorimotor impairment secondary with hippotherapy, an unstable support surface approach trunk neurorehabilitation, to the to cerebral palsy
Notwithstanding the crucial role of balance on movement and motor function, there is still a lack of studies that focus on postural control and rehabilitation
Summary
Postural control is the intrinsic ability to restore balance from any position or during any motor activity resulting in a final motor adjustment process [1]. Postural reactions are usually considered automatic; they are somewhere between reflexive and volitional actions They involve activation of muscle synergies throughout the body, depend on prior experience and may change according to task and context [3]. Postural control is a complex task driven by the central nervous system involving anticipatory predictive reactions for balance’s maintenance through the harmonious interaction of muscle activity against gravity and environmental forces [4,5]. In neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy, the presence of muscle tone changes, muscle weakness, musculoskeletal alterations, decreased shoulder and pelvic girdle movement, makes sitting
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