Effects of assisted aquatic movement and horseback riding therapies on emotion and brain activation in patients with cerebral palsy

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of assisted aquatic movement and horseback riding therapies on emotion and brain activation in patients with cerebral palsy. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-two right-handed patients with cerebral palsy (18 male, 14 female) whose ages ranged from 8 to 48 years participated in this experiment. Their cerebral palsy levels ranged from 1 to 3. The participants were assigned to one of three groups according to the experimental conditions: an assisted aquatic movement therapy group, a horseback riding therapy group, or a control group. Electroencephalograms, the Feeling Scale and the Felt Arousal Scale were examined as dependent variables. [Results] Analysis of self-reported data demonstrated a significant positive improvement in the emotions of participants in the assisted aquatic movement therapy group in comparison with the control group. With regard to the electroencephalogram analysis, the results of this study showed increased alpha power in the assisted aquatic movement therapy group compared with the horseback riding and control groups. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that professionals can consider assisted aquatic movement therapy as an effective therapeutic intervention for the improvement of mental health and brain activation.

Benefits of Hippotherapy and Horse Riding Simulation Exercise on Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review

“…The same effect was not observed after an intervention using HRS. For cerebral palsy, a study published in 2016 did not find a significant impact on electroencephalograms after hippotherapy intervention [35]. Moreover, there were no significant changes in brain function in children with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder or both, after 32 weeks of hippotherapy [36].…”

RE: Julie K. Silver, et al, Female Physicians Are Underrepresented in Recognition Awards from the AAPM&R

“…The same effect was not observed after an intervention using HRS. For cerebral palsy, a study published in 2016 did not find a significant impact on electroencephalograms after hippotherapy intervention [35]. Moreover, there were no significant changes in brain function in children with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder or both, after 32 weeks of hippotherapy [36].…”

Avaliação do alinhamento postural e extensibilidade muscular pela escala SAROMM em crianças com paralisia cerebral após fisioterapia aquática

“…De fato, o aprendizado adquirido dentro da água é transferido para o meio terrestre facilitando a realização dos movimentos e melhor controle do alinhamento postural [13], melhorando a extensibilidade muscular. Desta forma a fisioterapia aquática se torna uma intervenção efetiva em crianças com paralisia cerebral [36] ampliando sua melhora inclusive sobre a saúde mental e atividade cerebral [37].…”