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PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation2018; 10(10); 1062-1072; doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2018.03.019

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

Abstract: To provide an up-to-date research analysis on equine-assisted therapies and horse riding simulation exercise in older adults, and to suggest future directions in clinical practice and research. TYPE: Systematic review. A comprehensive search of studies was performed in 4 electronic databases (Cochrane, PubMed, PEDro, and Web of Science) regarding the effects of equine-assisted therapies and horse riding simulation exercise in older adults. Eight articles were selected, 5 of them focused on hippotherapy, 2 on horse riding simulation, and a single article that used the 2 types of therapy. PRISMA guidelines were followed for the data extraction process. The studies were all randomized controlled trials, but not double-blind, so they were classified as level of evidence B. Duration of hippotherapy programs ranged from 8-12 weeks. Sessions lasted between 15 and 60 minutes and were performed 2-5 times per week. Interventions using a horse simulator spanned 8 weeks and were conducted for 20 minutes 5 times per week. Results indicate that hippotherapy might improve balance, mobility, gait ability, and muscle strength, as well as could induce hormonal and cerebral activity changes in healthy older adults. Benefits of horse riding simulation could be limited to physical fitness and muscular activity. I.
Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2018-04-05 PubMed ID: 29626616DOI: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2018.03.019Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Systematic Review

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses the benefits of equine-assisted therapies, specifically hippotherapy and horse riding simulation, on the health and well-being of older adults. The findings suggest that these therapies can improve balance, mobility, gait ability, muscular strength and might induce hormonal and cerebral activity changes.

Research Methodology

  • The main methodology used in this study was a systematic review. The researchers performed an extensive search in four electronic databases: Cochrane, PubMed, PEDro, and Web of Science to gather relevant studies on equine-assisted therapies and horse riding simulation exercise for older adults.
  • Out of the collected articles, eight were chosen: five focused on hippotherapy, two explored horse riding simulation, and one study implemented both therapies.
  • To ensure quality and consistency, the researchers adhered to PRISMA guidelines during their data extraction process. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) is a guideline designed to improve the integrity and quality of data in review articles.

Study Design and Intervention

  • All the studies included in the review were randomized controlled trials. However, they were not double-blind, leading to their classification as level of evidence B, suggesting that the results should be interpreted with care due to potential bias.
  • Hippotherapy programs varied in duration, spanning from 8 to 12 weeks. Each session lasted between 15 to 60 minutes and was carried out 2 to 5 times every week.
  • The interventions involving a horse simulator lasted 8 weeks, with each session conducted for 20 minutes, 5 times weekly.

Findings

  • The outcomes suggest that hippotherapy may enhance balance, mobility, gait ability, and muscular strength in older adults. It may also stimulate hormonal and cerebral activity changes.
  • The benefits of horse riding simulation, on the other hand, appeared to be limited to improving physical fitness and muscular activity.
  • Overall, these findings support the use of hippotherapy and horse riding simulation exercise as a complimentary therapeutic strategy for improving health and physical fitness in older adults.

Cite This Article

APA
Hilliere C, Collado-Mateo D, Villafaina S, Duque-Fonseca P, Parraça JA. (2018). Benefits of Hippotherapy and Horse Riding Simulation Exercise on Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review. PM R, 10(10), 1062-1072. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2018.03.019

Publication

PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation
ISSN: 1934-1563
NlmUniqueID: 101491319
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 10
Pages: 1062-1072

Researcher Affiliations

Hilliere, Camille
  • Departamento de Desporto e Saúde Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.
Collado-Mateo, Daniel
  • Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda Universidad s/n, 10071 Cáceres, Spain; Facultad de Educación, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca, Chile.
Villafaina, Santos
  • Faculty of Sport Science (Cáceres), University of Extremadura, Extremadura, Spain.
Duque-Fonseca, Paulo
  • Departamento de Desporto e Saúde Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.
Parraça, José A
  • Departamento de Desporto e Saúde Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.

MeSH Terms

  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy / methods
  • Exercise Therapy / methods
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscle Strength / physiology
  • Physical Fitness / physiology
  • Postural Balance / physiology
  • Quality of Life
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome

Citations

This article has been cited 13 times.
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    doi: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2249822pubmed: 37643349google scholar: lookup
  2. Obrero-Gaitán E, Montoro-Cárdenas D, Cortés-Pérez I, Osuna-Pérez MC. Effectiveness of Mechanical Horse-Riding Simulator-Based Interventions in Patients with Cerebral Palsy-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022 Dec 11;9(12).
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  4. Abdel Ghafar MA, Abdelraouf OR, Abdel-Aziem AA, Elnegamy TE, Mohamed ME, Yehia AM, Mousa GS. Pulmonary Function and Aerobic Capacity Responses to Equine Assisted Therapy in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Rehabil Med 2022 Jun 23;54:jrm00296.
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  5. Lavín-Pérez AM, Collado-Mateo D, Caña-Pino A, Villafaina S, Parraca JA, Apolo-Arenas MD. Benefits of Equine-Assisted Therapies in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2022;2022:9656503.
    doi: 10.1155/2022/9656503pubmed: 35529929google scholar: lookup
  6. Urbowicz M, Saulicz M, Saulicz A, Saulicz E. Self-Assessment of the Pelvic Floor by Women Practicing Recreational Horseback Riding. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Feb 13;19(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph19042108pubmed: 35206295google scholar: lookup
  7. Abdel-Aziem AA, Abdelraouf OR, Ghally SA, Dahlawi HA, Radwan RE. A 10-Week Program of Combined Hippotherapy and Scroth's Exercises Improves Balance and Postural Asymmetries in Adolescence Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Randomized Controlled Study. Children (Basel) 2021 Dec 30;9(1).
    doi: 10.3390/children9010023pubmed: 35053648google scholar: lookup
  8. Lobato Rincón LL, Rivera Martín B, Medina Sánchez MÁ, Villafaina S, Merellano-Navarro E, Collado-Mateo D. Effects of Dog-Assisted Education on Physical and Communicative Skills in Children with Severe and Multiple Disabilities: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 10;11(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11061741pubmed: 34200895google scholar: lookup
  9. Park S, Park S, Min S, Kim CJ, Jee YS. A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effects of Equine Simulator Riding on Low Back Pain, Morphological Changes, and Trunk Musculature in Elderly Women. Medicina (Kaunas) 2020 Nov 13;56(11).
    doi: 10.3390/medicina56110610pubmed: 33202928google scholar: lookup
  10. Collado-Mateo D, Lavín-Pérez AM, Fuentes García JP, García-Gordillo MÁ, Villafaina S. Effects of Equine-Assisted Therapies or Horse-Riding Simulators on Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas) 2020 Aug 31;56(9).
    doi: 10.3390/medicina56090444pubmed: 32878327google scholar: lookup
  11. Badin L, Pothier K, Agli O, Van Dendaele E, Guillou G, Ventalon G, Bailly N. Equine-Assisted Interventions and Physical Health in Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis. Sage Open Aging 2025 Jan-Dec;11:23337214241298342.
    doi: 10.1177/23337214241298342pubmed: 40611861google scholar: lookup
  12. Siddiqui M, Farooqui S, Rizvi J, Soomro BA, Khan MU. Effects of Simulated Equestrian Therapy in Improving Motor Proficiency among Down Syndrome Children - A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Exerc Sci 2024;17(1):1193-1207.
    doi: 10.70252/LRAL2790pubmed: 39257644google scholar: lookup
  13. Kocyigit BF, Adilbekov E, Zharmenov S, Akyol A, Yessirkepov M. Evaluating the efficacy of hippotherapy: a promising intervention in rheumatology, pain medicine, and geriatrics. Rheumatol Int 2023 Dec;43(12):2185-2191.
    doi: 10.1007/s00296-023-05451-xpubmed: 37700080google scholar: lookup
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