Abstract
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a permanent disorder of the posture and movement, which can result in impairments of gross motor function, among others. Hippotherapy (HPT) is an emerging intervention to promote motor recovery in patients with neurological disorders, providing a smooth, precise, rhythmic, and repetitive pattern of movement to the patient. The main objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials was to analyze the effectiveness of HPT interventions on gross motor function in subjects with CP. The following databases were searched in May 2019: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. The methodological quality of the randomized controlled trials was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. A total of 10 studies were analyzed in this review, involving 452 participants. Favorable effects were obtained on the gross motor function (Gross Motor Function Measure-66, standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.47–1.15, Gross Motor Function Measure-88 dimension A SMD = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.30–0.97, dimension B SMD = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.09–0.75, and dimension E SMD = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.06–0.73). The results obtained in the present review show the potential benefit of HPT intervention in improving gross motor function in children with CP.
Highlights
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the main source of physical disability in children [1]
No filters were applied in relation to the publication dates or language, but the results were filtered to obtain only studies that corresponded to randomized clinical trials (RCTs)
We could state that HPT interventions were effective to improve gross motor function in subjects with CP
Summary
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the main source of physical disability in children [1]. The prevalence of CP is2.11/1000 live births since 1985 in high-income developed countries. Children with CP usually present several limitations in terms of postural control, balance, walking, and gross motor function, as well as sensory and perceptual disturbances, spasticity, visual impairment, mental retardation, epilepsy, etc. These disorders are responsible for inefficient and ineffective movements and activities and it often leads to limitations in carrying out activities of daily living [2]. The neurodevelopmental therapies are usually used in the neurological rehabilitation of children with CP. These therapies are Children 2020, 7, 106; doi:10.3390/children7090106 www.mdpi.com/journal/children
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