An assessment of the pressure distribution exerted by a rider on the back of a horse during hippotherapy.
Abstract: Hippotherapy employs locomotion impulses that are emitted from the back of a horse while the horse is walking. These impulses stimulate the rider's postural reflex mechanisms, resulting in training of balance and coordination. The aim of the present study was to assess the changes in magnitude and distribution of the contact pressure between the rider and the horse during a series of hippotherapy lessons. The monitored group, consisting of four healthy women (mean age 22.75 years, mean body weight 59.75 kg, mean height 167.25 cm) without any previous horse riding experience, received five 20 minute-lessons lessons in a three-week period. Hippotherapy was given on a 15-year-old thoroughbred mare. An elastic pad (Novel Pliance System, 30 Hz, 224 sensors) was used for pressure magnitude evaluation. The maximum pressure value was increased (p<.05) in the event of a second measurement (5th lesson). The pressure exerted on the rider upon contact of the rear limbs was higher than upon contact of the front limbs (p<.01). The size of the center of pressure (COP) deviations in the anteroposterior direction reduced (p<.05) with the number of lessons received. With the growing experience of the participant, an increase in pressure occurred on contact of her body and the horse's back as well as in the stability of the COP movement.
Publication Date: 2009-04-29 PubMed ID: 19406498DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2009.04.001Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigates the changes in pressure distribution between a rider and a horse during hippotherapy sessions. Hippotherapy, a form of therapy for balance and coordination using a horse’s movements as a stimulant, reportedly shifted the pressure by rider and horse based on the rider’s experience and the horse’s leg engagement.
Study Overview
- This study aimed to understand the shifts in pressure distribution between a horse and rider across several sessions of hippotherapy. Hippotherapy is a treatment strategy in physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy that uses horse movement to aid postural control, balance, coordination, and other motor skills.
- The researchers monitored a group made up of four healthy women, all without prior horse riding experience. They engaged in five 20-minute lessons spread over three weeks, delivered on the back of a 15-year-old thoroughbred mare.
- A tool called the elastic pad (Novel Pliance System) with 224 sensors was used to measure the magnitude of the pressure during each therapy session. This system, with a 30 Hz response frequency, allowed for detailed analysis of pressure distribution.
Results and Implications
- The study found that maximum pressure value increased (p<.05) by the fifth, final lesson, implying a change occurred either in riders' posture, the horse's gait, or both throughout the course of the therapy.
- Interestingly, the pressure exerted on the rider upon the rear limb contact was higher than upon the front limb contact (p<.01), suggesting different biomechanical interaction between rider and horse based on the horse's stride.
- The size of the center of pressure (COP) deviations in the anteroposterior direction (front-to-back movement on the horse’s back) reduced (p<.05) with the number of lessons, pointing towards a growing stability in the rider's position and balance over time.
- Overall, with increasing experience, riders exerted greater pressure on the horse’s back and showed more COP movement stability, indicating an evolution in the rider’s ability to maintain control and stability on the horseback during the therapy.
Conclusion
- This study provides valuable insights into the changes that occur in pressure distribution between a rider and a horse during hippotherapy. It suggests the importance of understanding such dynamics to ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes, rider comfort, and horse welfare.
- Future research might combine these physical measures with qualitative feedback from participants to provide a comprehensive understanding of the therapeutic value of hippotherapy.
Cite This Article
APA
Janura M, Peham C, Dvorakova T, Elfmark M.
(2009).
An assessment of the pressure distribution exerted by a rider on the back of a horse during hippotherapy.
Hum Mov Sci, 28(3), 387-393.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2009.04.001 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Palacky University Olomouc, Department of Biomechanics and Engineering Cybernetics, Czech Republic. miroslav.janura@upol.cz
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Exercise Movement Techniques / methods
- Exercise Therapy / methods
- Female
- Gait / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Humans
- Learning
- Locomotion / physiology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Posture / physiology
- Reference Values
- Reflex / physiology
- Young Adult
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Stergiou AN, Mattila-Rautiainen S, Varvarousis DN, Tzoufi M, Plyta P, Beris A, Ploumis A. The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1203481.
- Ali MS, Awad AS. Comparison of the efficacy of two interventions in ameliorating abdominal thickness and sitting function in children with diplegia. J Taibah Univ Med Sci 2022 Aug;17(4):548-555.
- Viruega H, Imbernon C, Chausson N, Altarcha T, Aghasaryan M, Soumah D, Lescieux E, Flamand-Roze C, Simon O, Bedin A, Smadja D, Gaviria M. Neurorehabilitation through Hippotherapy on Neurofunctional Sequels of Stroke: Effect on Patients' Functional Independence, Sensorimotor/Cognitive Capacities and Quality of Life, and the Quality of Life of Their Caregivers-A Study Protocol. Brain Sci 2022 May 9;12(5).
- Lightsey P, Lee Y, Krenek N, Hur P. Physical therapy treatments incorporating equine movement: a pilot study exploring interactions between children with cerebral palsy and the horse. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2021 Sep 6;18(1):132.
- Goodworth AD, Barrett C, Rylander J, Garner B. Specificity and variability of trunk kinematics on a mechanical horse. Hum Mov Sci 2019 Feb;63:82-95.
- Moraes AG, Copetti F, Angelo VR, Chiavoloni LL, David AC. The effects of hippotherapy on postural balance and functional ability in children with cerebral palsy. J Phys Ther Sci 2016 Aug;28(8):2220-6.
- Park J, Lee S, Lee D. The effects of horseback riding simulator exercises on the muscle activity of the lower extremities according to changes in arm posture. J Phys Ther Sci 2015 Sep;27(9):2731-2.
- Thompson K, McGreevy P, McManus P. A Critical Review of Horse-Related Risk: A Research Agenda for Safer Mounts, Riders and Equestrian Cultures. Animals (Basel) 2015 Jul 17;5(3):561-75.
- Flores FM, Dagnese F, Mota CB, Copetti F. Parameters of the center of pressure displacement on the saddle during hippotherapy on different surfaces. Braz J Phys Ther 2015 May-Jun;19(3):211-7.
- Kim YN, Lee DK. Effects of horse-riding exercise on balance, gait, and activities of daily living in stroke patients. J Phys Ther Sci 2015 Mar;27(3):607-9.
- Lee D, Lee S, Park J. Effects of indoor horseback riding and virtual reality exercises on the dynamic balance ability of normal healthy adults. J Phys Ther Sci 2014 Dec;26(12):1903-5.
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- Viry S, Sleimen-Malkoun R, Temprado JJ, Frances JP, Berton E, Laurent M, Nicol C. Patterns of horse-rider coordination during endurance race: a dynamical system approach. PLoS One 2013;8(8):e71804.
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