Use Of Hippotherapy Research Articles

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ ОПЫТА ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ ИППОТЕРАПИИ В СОЦИАЛИЗАЦИИ ДЕТЕЙ С ОТКЛОНЕНИЯМИ В РАЗВИТИИ

Objective: to explore and to substantiate the possibility of a positive effect of the hippotherapy on children with mental deficiency and to test the effectiveness of such an activity. Materials and methods. The sociological method is a survey (questioning, interviewing) and direct observation of hippotherapy classes. The survey was conducted separately among family members of mentally retarded children (12 people) and their coaches (5 people) in order to compare the results obtained. The average age of children whose relatives and coaches participated in the survey and interviewing was 8 years. Results. To assess the impact of hippotherapy on children with mental retardation, a generalized criterion was proposed, for which a comparative analysis of the impact of hippotherapy was conducted based on a survey of family members and coaches of children engaged in hippotherapy. A comparative analysis of the assessment of the impact of hippotherapy showed the greatest positive effect of classes in the development of large motor skills-83% (75%) and communication - 67% (58%). Less noticeable results were noted in the field of speech improvement – 50% (25%) and learning ability – 25% (33%). During the observation, it was noted: the formation of skills of managing their own body in children is facilitated by the complexity of riding, the need to find balance; the features of classes provide conditions for learning children, stimulate their speech, reduce behavioral problems, have a positive impact on the psycho-emotional sphere, promote social adaptation. Conclusion: based on the studied experience in the use of hippotherapy and on the conducted analysis, the positive effect of hippotherapy on children with developmental disabilities (mental retardation) is justified, the effectiveness of such classes and the positive effect of hippotherapy as an additional method of rehabilitation are proved.

The use of hippotherapy in shaping the body posture and balance in children with Down syndrome

Down syndrome (DS) is one of the most common genetic developmental disorders that is caused by a trisomy of the 21st chromosome pair. The incidence of Down syndrome in the general population is estimated at 1/732 infants. This percentage increases significantly with the increasing age of women in labour. Down syndrome manifests itself in a variety of signs and symptoms. The signs mainly refer to abnormalities in the structure of the central nervous system, internal organs, eye and skeletal system defects. Both aspects of development, i.e., physical and mental, are delayed. One of the methods that supports the treatment of patients with DS is hippotherapy. It takes various forms, including: therapy in the form of contact with a horse, psycho-pedagogical horse riding and therapeutic horse riding. The purpose of the article was to present the influence of hippotherapy on the shaping of body posture and coordination skills with particular emphasis on body balance.

Personality of patients with multiple sclerosis and the use of hippotherapy

BackgroundHippotherapy is an acknowledged form of rehabilitation for multiple sclerosis (MS) in Poland, but is still rarely used. The aim of the study was to assess the differences in the intensity of the personality traits of patients with MS who use and who do not use hippotherapy. MethodsThe examination covered 92 patients with MS, aged 15-81 years old (85.9% women), average age 41.78 (± 15.02) years old, both using hippotherapy and not using this method of rehabilitation. The NEO-FFI Personality Inventory has been used for the study of personality traits. Socio-demographic and clinical data, as well as information regarding the use of hippotherapy, has been collected with the assistance of a self-designed survey. ResultsFor all of the patients, the trait expressed with the greatest intensity was conscientiousness (31 ± 7.51), and the least-expressed trait was neuroticism (24±10.42). 46% of the patients used hippotherapy and, compared to the non-users, they had a significantly greater level of agreeableness (34 v. 29, P<.001) and conscientiousness (33 v. 29, P=.009). Hippotherapy was most often used by the elderly patients (age average 49 ± 13.7, years old), while the average age of the non-users was 36 ± 13.6, years old (P<.001). Gender, education, place of residence, and economic status did not affect the choice of hippotherapy as a rehabilitation method. ConclusionsThe patients who use hippotherapy had a significantly higher level of agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. The most important trait influencing the decision to try hippotherapy was agreeableness.

The effectiveness of hippotherapy in relation to cerebral palsy - a review

Cerebral Palsy (CP) includes a group of movement and posture development disorders which cause activity limitation and are related to non-progressive disturbances during the fetal or infant brain development. In recent years, the use of hippotherapy as a rehabilitation of spstatic movement disorders in patients with cerebral palsy is gaining in popularity. Hippotherapy is a physical therapy treatment based on the horse's movements, under the direction of an expert physical therapist. The horse's seat is considered as a dynamic support base. Thus, it is an excellent tool to improve and develop postural control, trunk strength, and balance. It allows to build overall postural strength and endurance, address weight-bearing, and motor planning. The therapeutic results obtained with the application of hippotherapy treatments has encouraged research into developing an advanced hippotherapy platform or simulators that "imitate" the movements of a horse, so that this therapy may be more accessible and adaptable to patients. The purpose of this report is to identify the forms and programmes of hippotherapy used, and to summarise and assess the latest available evidence of their clinical effectiveness in the rehabilitation of symptoms in patients with cerebral palsy. Method: a review of publications on the effectiveness of hippotherapy programmes in the rehabilitation of symptoms in patients with cerebral palsy. Finally, 8 original tests were included in the review whose data have been extracted. The results of the research indicate that hippotherapy may be beneficial in the rehabilitation of symptoms in patients with cerebral palsy. The review suggests that further research is needed to establish a solid evidence base for hippotherapy among people with these problems. The promising results so far support further research projects.

Hippotherapy Practice and Safety Patterns in the United States: A Descriptive Survey Study.

Objective: The use of equine movement as a therapy tool in a plan of care, or hippotherapy, has grown considerably over the past three decades. However, there is little evidence of safety rates and related practice patterns to guide key stakeholders such as clients, therapists, the health care team, and third-party payers. The purpose of this article is to describe the safety and practice patterns of contemporary use of hippotherapy. Design: A survey was distributed to occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech-language pathology clinicians who incorporate hippotherapy into their practice. The survey included questions about clinicians' practice patterns, safety procedures, and rates of safety incidents. Results: Results indicate that hippotherapy is most often used by PT and OT clinicians for pediatric clients. Use of hippotherapy varies by geographic location, and frequency and duration vary widely. Clinicians most often contract their services to a program that provides a facility and horses. Recommended safety practices are widely adopted, and rates of safety incidents requiring basic first aid (0.05% of sessions) or off-site care (0.01% of sessions) are low. Emergency dismounts are frequently practiced and often effective in preventing an incident. Conclusions: Although there are inherent risks to incorporating horses into a therapeutic plan of care, these risks appear to be well managed by recommended safety practices. Results of this study can (1) help clinicians to make informed decisions regarding practice and safety procedures, (2) provide evidence of safety practices and incident rates to clients, members of the health care team, and third-party payers, and (3) maximize safety for clients who participate in hippotherapy.

The Effect Of A Five-Week Hippotherapy Programme On Gait In A Child With Angelman's Syndrome. A Case Study Using The Wee Glasgow Gait Index (Weeggi)

Background/Aims Hippotherapy is a treatment modality performed by a qualified physical, occupational or speech therapist, using equine movement to gain therapeutic outcome; hippotherapy has been shown to improve gross motor development, tone, spasticity, balance, coordination, range of movement and muscle length. Angelman Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that causes ataxia, poor coordination and balance, reduced mobility, high tone and learning difficulties. Research into hippotherapy in Angelman Syndrome is sparse; therefore, this case study aimed to investigate the effect of a 5-week hippotherapy intervention on gait in a child with Angelman Syndrome, using the Wee Glasgow Gait Index (WeeGGI) Measure. Methods One participant was recruited to the case study using convenience sampling. The equine was selected based on their conformation, temperament and suitability for hippotherapy. A 5-week programme of hippotherapy was delivered using one equine, one therapist, a leader and two side walkers. Each session ranged between 30 and 40 minutes. A full physiotherapy assessment and the WeeGGI outcome measure were completed at pre and post-intervention. Results On the WeeGGI measure, a reduction of five points was achieved on the left leg and a reduction of two points was achieved for the right leg. Furthermore, an improvement in range of movement and muscle length was observed into left hip abduction, bilateral hamstrings and bilateral gastrocnemius and soleus. In addition to these results, the child was noted to have improved balance reactions, concentration, core strength and acceptance of base of support towards the end of the intervention period. Conclusions This 5-week hippotherapy programme demonstrated improvement in gait pattern, range of movement and muscle length in a child with Angelman Syndrome. Additionally, the child was noted to improve in non-gait specific domains, such as balance and independent adjustment of position while mounted. These findings add to the evidence base for the use of hippotherapy in rarer genetic conditions and suggest that hippotherapy is an effective and feasible treatment modality for this population. However, this was a small sample size and therefore it would be beneficial for further research to be carried out on a larger scale in order to generalise these findings to the wider population.

Hippotherapy in occupational therapy practice

8BACKGROUND: There has recently been renewed interest in hippotherapy, which can be a strategy of choice within therapy programmes involving the use of a horse. In this study, the authors endeavoured to explore the experiences and perceptions of occupational therapists in the use of hippotherapy as a therapeutic intervention strategy. METHODS: A quantitative descriptive study design was selected utilising an online questionnaire. Two hundred and thirty seven therapists were purposively sampled with data being obtained from 53 respondents. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The majority of respondents (n=39 i.e. 76.3%) indicated awareness of hippotherapy, with a number of the respondents indicating exposure to hippotherapy during their studies (n=24 i.e. 46.2%). Only six of the respondents were currently using hippotherapy, either directly or through referrals. It is significant to note that out of the 47 of the respondents who were not currently using hippotherapy, 42 respondents indicated that they would consider using it in the future. CONCLUSION: The high percentage of respondents interested in this therapeutic intervention strategy can be linked to their perception of the benefits of hippotherapy. In particular, all respondents indicated that they viewed hippotherapy as being beneficial for neurological conditions, as well as for specific aspects of functioning including postural control, mobility, processing and integration, self-confidence, self-esteem, mood and motivation. Relevant barriers impacting on the use of hippotherapy included limited centres available and lack of awareness. The majority of respondents currently not using hippotherapy indicated that there was limited training for occupational therapists. As benefits become validated by future research studies, as well as by limiting barriers to the use of this intervention strategy, hippotherapy may become a more widespread and acceptable adjunctive therapeutic intervention strategy. Key words: occupational therapists, occupational therapy, hippotherapy

Efeito da equoterapia na estabilidade postural de portadores de esclerose múltipla: estudo preliminar

OBJETIVO: Este estudo se propôs a verificar se a estimulação por meio da equoterapia é capaz de desencadear alterações no controle postural de portadores de esclerose múltipla (EM). MÉTODO: Fizeram parte deste estudo 11 portadores de EM divididos em Grupo Intervenção (GI) e Grupo Controle (GC). O GI foi inserido num programa de hipoterapia durante 4 meses, sendo conduzidas 2 sessões semanais com duração de 50 minutos cada. A estabilidade postural foi avaliada utilizando uma plataforma de força (para calcular o deslocamento do centro de pressão (COP), durante 30 segundos, em postura ereta quasi-estática, com olhos abertos e fechados, antes e após o treinamento com equoterapia. O tratamento estatístico foi feito através do ANOVA e Post hoc de Tukey com p&lt;0,05. RESULTADOS: A amplitude de oscilação anteroposterior reduziu significativamente no GI após a estimulação, enquanto o GC manteve um comportamento inalterado entre as avaliações. Em ambos os grupos, a estabilidade postural foi reduzida com a supressão da informação visual. CONCLUSÕES: A adaptação funcional proporcionada pela equoterapia foi capaz de melhorar a estabilidade postural dos portadores de EM. Os resultados corroboram a literatura que suporta o uso da equoterapia como uma intervenção em potencial nas desordens de controle postural em portadores de EM.

Use of hippotherapy in gait training for hemiparetic post-stroke

To evaluate the hippotherapy influence on gait training in post-stroke hemiparetic individuals. The study was constituted of 20 individuals divided into two groups. Group A performed the conventional treatment while group B the conventional treatment along with hippotherapy during 16 weeks. The patients were evaluated by using the Functional Ambulation Category Scale, Fugl-Meyer Scale, only the lower limbs and balance sub items, Berg Balance Scale, and functional assessment of gait (cadence) in the beginning and end of the treatment. Significant improvements were observed in the experimental group including motor impairment in lower limbs (p=0.004), balance, over time (p=0.007) but a significant trend between groups (p=0.056). The gait independence, cadence and speed were not significantly in both groups (p=0.93, 0.69 and 0.44). Hippotherapy associated with conventional physical therapy demonstrates a positive influence in gait training, besides bringing the patients' gait standard closer to normality than the control group.

A randomized controlled trial of the impact of therapeutic horse riding on the quality of life, health, and function of children with cerebral palsy

See related article on page 111. The study by Elise Davis and her Australian colleagues represents a sound effort to perform a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to explore a popular issue in the treatment of children and youth with cerebral palsy (CP), namely the use of hippotherapy. Hippotherapy refers to the presumed therapeutic benefit of horseback riding under controlled and appropriate circumstances with trained horses and human interveners. A number of perspectives on the putative benefits (functional and personal perspectives) of such therapy are offered. Like any good piece of research the study raises a number of important issues that are worthy of comment. The first point to consider relates to the huge challenges inherent in trying to carry out effective RCTs in our complex field of developmental disability. The flow diagram alone tells a number of stories about the difficulties in recruitment, with 155 of 256 families deemed eligible for the study declining to participate. Whatever the families’ reasons, this high (61%) refusal rate has been observed in other studies in CP (Law M, personal communication 2008), and reflects the reality that even when a condition is relatively prevalent (as is true for CP) it can be difficult to find the numbers needed for effective evaluations of our interventions (as determined by pre-study sample size calculations). Furthermore, even among the 99 people who did enroll in the study, 85 actually received the assigned therapy but only 71 were fully evaluated at the end of the study. The second interesting point concerns the findings of the trial. There will certainly be proponents of hippotherapy who will be disappointed at the lack of statistically significant findings from the trial. However, just because there are no apparent measured benefits from hippotherapy doesn’t mean people should not do it! There was no evidence that the intervention caused any harm, and there are suggestions from the unstructured parental observations that the experience was of value to at least some of the children. Whatever happened to people doing things because they wanted to and because they were fun, even in the absence of statistical evidence of benefit? It is also possible that the models we use to explain what our therapies are expected to do may be wrong. In the case of hippotherapy there may be benefits that were not thought about and therefore not measured in this study. Perhaps the findings should be considered in the context of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health,1 where participation is one of the goals in life. These children’s experiences certainly included a new element of participation, and the changes in that dimension of life are almost certainly a good thing! Third, the authors rightly identify the challenges of measuring changes in complex constructs like quality of life, which may in fact be a relatively stable phenomenon, as has been recently reported by our group.2 What might be a useful follow-up to the present study would be qualitative studies with both parents and young people (separately) to understand what aspects of the experience were seen to be useful and to have had an impact on the children and youth. Lessons learned from such inquiries would help all of us to know about both hippotherapy and other interventions that seem to make a difference to the lives of the young people we see with CP and other developmental disorders. The investigators have undertaken a worthwhile exploration of an intervention for children with CP and have reported findings that should provide a stimulus for further discussion and research in our ever-evolving field of developmental disability.