Hippotherapy

Many studies focus on the impact of equine assisted services (EAS) on social skills in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but existing data are not consensual and the only available meta-analysis included only three studies and did not consider the social responsiveness scale (SRS). This meta-analysis aims to measure the impact of EAS on social skills in ASD. Using Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library, the means and standard deviations of every available SRS post-intervention scores in each participant group were collected from the five selected randomised controlled trials with 240 participants...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

PURPOSE: To summarize and update the current knowledge on the effectiveness of hippotherapy on postural control in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Using a systematic review methodology, the electronic databases PubMed, Virtual Health Library, PEDro, Scielo, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for eligible articles from 2011 up to September 2021. Quality assessment of eligible studies was performed using the PEDro scale. RESULTS: There were 239 identified studies...

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed women's cancer, and has a high survival rate. Despite great progress in detection and treatment, life reconstruction requires comprehensive cross-sectoral approaches between different disciplines and deeper consideration of the patient's challenges. Hippotherapy is an emerging specialized rehabilitation approach, performed by accredited health professionals and equine specialists, on specially trained horses via their movement, activating major paths for physical, mental, psychic and social reinforcement, and is synergistic to rehabilitative and supportive care...

BACKGROUND: Mechanical horse-riding simulator (HRS) exercises are a type of therapy based on the use of robotic or mechanical devices that produces movement similar to a real horse with the aim of simulating hippotherapy. This review analyses the effectiveness of HRS therapies in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: A systematic review and a meta-analysis were carried out by searching studies in PubMed Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science, CINAHL, PEDro and SciELO up until October 2022...

Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of non-progressive brain disorders. Several different approaches are used to treat cerebral palsy children like neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT), sensory integration therapy (SIT), and hippotherapy. Sensory integration therapy is a clinically based approach that places an emphasis on the relationship between the therapist and the child and uses play-based sensory and motor activities to encourage analysis and integration. SIT seems to offer a lot of therapeutic prospects...

INTRODUCTION: Interaction has a multidimensional role in equine-facilitated rehabilitation. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to understand rehabilitees' experiences of interaction during equine-facilitated rehabilitation. METHODS: Six children and four adults with individual diagnoses or reasons to participate in equine-facilitated rehabilitation were included in this qualitative study. Data were collected by interviewing individually the rehabilitees...

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common psychiatric disorder with a worldwide prevalence of about five percent among children and adolescents. This disorder affects most aspects of their lives e.g., academic performance and social relations, and their overall quality of life is reduced compared to healthy peers. The majority of children with ADHD are treated with medication that potentially has an insufficient effect and/or frequently occurring side effects. OBJECTIVES: To enable nurses and other health care professionals to guide children with ADHD and their families in their choices of treatment, based on the best available literature on the association between nonpharmacological interventions and quality of life...

The purpose of this work is to study the gap between the research evidence and the clinical practice in the physical rehabilitation of people with cerebral palsy. A review process was performed to (1) identify physical therapies to improve postural control in children with cerebral palsy and (2) determine the scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of those therapies. A Likert-based survey addressing a total of 43 healthcare professionals involved in pediatric physical therapy departments in Spain was carried out...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of hippotherapy simulation exercise on the improvement of muscle strength, balance, spasticity, and quality of life in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Outpatient clinic at the rehabilitation clinic of University of Usak, Turkey PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with MS (n = 40) participated in this randomized clinical study. INTERVENTIONS: Patients in both groups received 36 treatment sessions, 3 times per week for 12 consecutive weeks...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Objective/Background: The abdominal muscles are extremely important in stabilizing the trunk and maximizing postural stability. The presence of apparent stiffness in children with spastic diplegia is associated with unsteadiness, impaired walking, and pelvic malrotation. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of hippotherapy and whole-body vibration in ameliorating abdominal muscle thickness and sitting function in children with diplegia. Methods: A total of 60 children with spastic diplegia were selected from the Faculty of Physical Therapy's outpatient clinic, Cairo University, and randomly allocated into two groups...

Background: Activities with horses cause many emotional reactions in their recipients, the measurement and analysis of which can provide information about positive or negative attitudes toward hippotherapy activities. The purpose of the study was to explore how horse contact affects the emotions of female and male students experiencing horseback riding during a three-day hippotherapy session. Material and Methods: The study included 252 physiotherapy students from the Medical University of Wrocław who participated in hippotherapy classes during a three-day didactic and scientific course implemented in the years 2014-2019...

The three-dimensional movement of the horse in physical therapy is a valuable kinesio-therapeutic phenomenon that simultaneously affects several body systems, including particularly the neuromuscular system. However, the effects of equine-assisted services (EAS) on neuromuscular activation patterns in older adults have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we evaluated the impact of a 10-weeks EAS program on trunk muscles in older adults who used a saddle and placed their feet in stirrups for the first 15 minutes and out of stirrups for the remaining 15 minutes of 30-minute EAS sessions...

Objective: To perform a systematic review of the literature regarding scientific reality of hippotherapy in children with cerebral palsy graded according to France HAS (Haute Autorité de Santé) recommendations and applied to the International Classification of Functioning. Methods: The research in MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases was performed using the keywords: "Equestrian therapy," "Riding for the disabled," "Hippotherapy," "Equine-movement therapy," and "Therapeutic horse (back) riding." The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using four levels of proof and three guideline grades (A: strong; B: moderate; C: poor)...

CONTEXT: Equine-assisted therapy in different facets aims to improve the clinical condition of children with cerebral palsy. A more comprehensive overview on the overall effects and on the differences between different treatment modalities seems desirable. OBJECTIVE: We compared the effectiveness of various equine-assisted treatments on motor capabilities and quality of life of children with cerebral palsy. DATA SOURCES: We conducted systematic searches of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials...

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic scoliosis is a common spinal malalignment that negatively impacts the respiratory system and physical conditioning in adolescents. Equine-assisted therapy comprises therapeutic horseback riding that optimizes physical performance and mobility in a range of contexts. However, the influence of equine-assisted therapy on pulmonary function remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of 10 weeks of hippotherapy combined with Schroth exercises on pulmonary function and aerobic capacity in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis...

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a high burden illness and the second leading cause of worldwide disability with generally poor recovery rates. Robust benefits of hippotherapy, a novel neurorehabilitation approach, in functional recovery following various severe neurological disabling conditions has been shown. In the present study, we will analyze the effect of a hippotherapy program on the outcome of post-stroke patients in the first year post-stroke. METHOD: A randomized controlled clinical trial on the effectiveness of hippotherapy (4 weeks/18 weeks hippotherapy/conventional neurorehabilitation) versus conventional neurorehabilitation alone (22 weeks) will be conducted over 48 weeks...

BACKGROUND: Hippotherapy (HPOT) is a physical therapy (PT) treatment tool using equine movement to improve mobility for children with movement impairments. Although research suggests HPOT improves body structure and function, there is limited evidence regarding its impact on activity and participation outcomes in a clinical setting. The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT) may be useful in HPOT settings to highlight changes in activity and participation...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.