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Home / Equine Research Bank / Phys Occup Ther Pediatr / Changes in trunk and head stability in children with cerebra...
Physical & occupational therapy in pediatrics2010; 30(2); 150-163; doi: 10.3109/01942630903517223

Changes in trunk and head stability in children with cerebral palsy after hippotherapy: a pilot study.

Abstract: Hippotherapy (HPOT) is a therapy that uses horse movement. This pilot investigation objectively evaluated the efficacy of HPOT in improving head/trunk stability in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The participants were six children with spastic diplegia and six children without disability. Head and trunk stability was challenged by using a motorized barrel and measured by a video motion capture system before and after a 12-week intervention of 45 min of HPOT a week. The variables measured were anterior-posterior (AP) translation of the head, and spine at five points and average AP head angles. At pre-testing, children with CP demonstrated significant differences in AP translation and AP head rotation compared with children without disability. Following HPOT, children with CP demonstrated significant reductions in head rotation and AP translation at C7, eye, and vertex. At post-testing, translation at C7 did not differ significantly between children with CP and children without disability. After HPOT intervention, children with CP reduced their AP head rotation and translation, suggesting that they had increased stability of the head and trunk in response to perturbations at the pelvis. The findings suggest that HPOT might improve head and trunk stability in children with CP.
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Publication Date: 2010-04-07 PubMed ID: 20367519DOI: 10.3109/01942630903517223Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

This research focuses on the beneficial effects of hippotherapy – a therapy involving horse movement – on head and trunk stability in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy. After a 12-week hippotherapy intervention, the children demonstrated notable improvements in head rotation and translation.

Study Participants and Methodology

  • The participants of this study were a group of six children diagnosed with spastic diplegia, a type of cerebral palsy, and six children with no disabilities.
  • The stability of their head and trunk was challenged through a motorized barrel and measured by a video motion capture system.
  • These measurements were carried out before and after a 12-week intervention of hippotherapy sessions. Each session lasted for 45 minutes per week.

Variables and Measurements

  • The research focused on measuring variables such as the anterior-posterior (AP) translation of the head, the spine at five points, and the average AP head angles.
  • At the pre-intervention testing stage, the children diagnosed with cerebral palsy exhibited significantly different results in AP translation and AP head rotation compared to children without any disability.

Results of the Intervention

  • Following the 12-week hippotherapy intervention, the children with cerebral palsy exhibited significant reductions in their head rotation and AP translation at three major points – C7 (a point at the lower cervical spine), the eye, and the vertex (highest point of the skull).
  • The translation at C7 did not differ significantly between the children with cerebral palsy and the children without the disability after the hippotherapy sessions.
  • The reduced AP head rotation and translation in children with cerebral palsy post hippotherapy intervention potentially suggests an increased stability in the head and trunk, especially in response to perturbations at the pelvis.

Implications of the Findings

  • The study concludes that hippotherapy might serve as an effective therapeutic intervention to improve the head and trunk stability in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, thereby bolstering their overall physical stability and mobility.

Cite This Article

APA
Shurtleff TL, Engsberg JR. (2010). Changes in trunk and head stability in children with cerebral palsy after hippotherapy: a pilot study. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr, 30(2), 150-163. https://doi.org/10.3109/01942630903517223

Publication

Physical & occupational therapy in pediatrics
ISSN: 1541-3144
NlmUniqueID: 8109120
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 30
Issue: 2
Pages: 150-163

Researcher Affiliations

Shurtleff, Tim L
  • Human Performance Laboratory, Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. tshurtleff@wustl.edu
Engsberg, Jack R

    MeSH Terms

    • Adolescent
    • Animals
    • Cerebral Palsy / physiopathology
    • Cerebral Palsy / rehabilitation
    • Child
    • Exercise Therapy
    • Female
    • Head Movements / physiology
    • Horses
    • Humans
    • Male
    • Pilot Projects
    • Posture / physiology

    Citations

    This article has been cited 16 times.
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