A Study of Therapeutic Effects of Horseback Riding for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

This article describes major findings from a study of the therapeutic benefits of horseback riding for children with cerebral palsy. Nineteen children (aged 4-12 years) with mild or moderate degrees of cerebral palsy were recruited from a children's treatment centre. Prior to randomization, the children were stratified according to their degree of disability. Ten children were allocated to a riding (experimental) group, and participated in one-hour weekly riding classes for six months. The remaining nine children were put on a waiting list for riding. The results of the study were inconclusive as so often in the case with children with cerebral palsy. Qualitative results gleaned from the weekly progress recordings of the riding instructor, reports of the on-site physical therapist, and reports from parents showed clear progressions in physical and psychosocial functioning. Results of standardized quantitative assessments showed few statistically significant changes in the children. The study clearly indicates a need for further research and for finding or developing instruments that are able to capture and reveal meaningful changes in physical and psychosocial status.

Is Hyppotherapy Beneficial for Rehabilitation of Children with Cerebral Palsy?

“…Bu araştırma-ların çoğunda hippoterapinin serebral palsili hastalarda kaba motor fonksiyonlarda gelişme sağ-ladığı ve postüral kontrolü geliştirdiği bildirilmektedir. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Ayrıca hippoterapinin serebral palsili hastalarda simetrinin sağlanması ve fonksiyonel motor beceriler üzerine olumlu etkileri bulunduğu bildirilmektedir. 8,[12][13][14][15][16] Ancak bu araştırmaların çoğunun kontrolsüz olması, olgu sayısının az olması, hastaların klinik özellikleri ve uygulanan tedavinin standardizasyonunun sağlanamaması nedenleriyle hippoterapinin serebral palsi tedavisindeki etkinliğinin belirlenmesi için yeni çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.…”

Efectos de las terapias ecuestres en personas con parálisis cerebral

“…La base de las terapias ecuestres se encuentran en el manejo del movimiento multidimensional del caballo combinado con diferentes técnicas rehabilitatorias (Haskin et al, 1982), sensoperceptivas (Haskin et al, 1974), auditivas (McCullough y Martin, 2005), motoras y visuales (Mackinnon et al, 1995) entre otras, contribuyendo de forma positiva a la estimulación y desarrollo en áreas como: cognitiva, física, psíquica, emocional, social, psicomotriz de las personas sea que presenten alguna deficiencia en sus capacidades o afecciones en alguna de las áreas mencionadas (Mackay et al, 1988). Es por esto que dichas terapias tienen una aplicación terapéutica en medicina, psicología, psiquiatría y pedagogía.…”

Comparison of different equilibrium examining methods – A pilot study: examination of the improvement in balance after hippotherapy

“…Kutatásokat nagyrészt neurológiai 8 , mozgásszervi és gyermekgyógyászati 1,2,4,5 területen végeztek. Utóbbi esetben fõként köz-ponti idegrendszeri károsodás esetében vég-zett vizsgálatokról született publikáció 10,11 . A vizsgálatok tárgyát képezte a nagy motoros funkciók 4,5 , az izomtónus, a szimmetrikus izommûködés 1 , a járás 12 , az egyensúly 2,3,11 és egyéb önellátási képességek vizsgálata 9,10 .…”