The Effects of Hippotherapy on Standing Balance in Patients with Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries: A Pilot Study

Abstract

<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:;" "="">The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of hippotherapy on standing balance in patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injuries. Ten patients (8 men and 2 women) who were diagnosed with cervical levels of injury be</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:;" "="">tween 3 and 6, and D according to the ASIA Impairment Scale. All patients were tested by the physiotherapists prior to and after hippotherapy treatment. Standing balance was measured using the Interactive Balance System (IBS). The weight distribution index was significantly increased in application of hippotherapy compared with control groups in patients with a neurologic level of cervical 3 and 4, and with Brown-Sequard syndrome, respectively. However, most of the patients exhibited no significant changes in the standing balance index, such as F1, F2-4, F5-6, F7-8, and SI scores, after hippotherapy. These results suggest that hippotherapy did not have a significant effect on the standing balance of patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injuries.</span

Comparison of the Static Balance Ability according to the Subjective Visual Vertical in Healthy Adults

“…The F5-F6 band (medium-high frequency between 0.5 and 1.0 Hz) is associated with the somatosensory system in the lower extremities, spine, and lower back. The high-frequency F7-F8 band (1.0Hz or higher frequencies) is caused by a dysfunction of the central nervous system 27.…”