Effect of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The research article investigates the impact of equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) on the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). They discovered that EAAT leads to improved CRF in these children.

Study Design and Participants

• The study was an evaluator-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial conducted on 46 children with cerebral palsy.
• These children, consisting of both boys and girls, were classified as either Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I, II, or III.
• The research was carried out at a tertiary university hospital and a local arena.

Procedure of the Study

• The children were split into two groups, one of which participated in a 16-week EAAT program that operated for 40 minutes twice a week.
• Both groups’ Clinical Global Impression scales, motor capacity, cardiopulmonary fitness, and habitual physical activity was measured before and after the 16-week period.

Results of the Study

• No significant differences were found in the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale scores between the two groups after the 16-week program.
• However, the EAAT group demonstrated significant differences in Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM 66) and Pediatric Balance Scale within motor capacity, as well as a reduction in resting heart rate (HRrest) within cardiorespiratory fitness.
• A linear regression analysis confirmed that the EAAT group’s change in GMFM 66 had a significant impact on the changes seen in HRrest.

Conclusion of the Study

• The research concluded that children with cerebral palsy can experience improved cardiorespiratory fitness resulting from participation in a 16-week EAAT program.
• This improvement was evidenced by a decreased resting heart rate after completion of the program and was driven by the improvements in the Gross Motor Function Measure 66 in the EAAT group.
• The study suggests that EAAT may be considered as a part of the endurance training programs for children diagnosed with CP aiming to increase their CRF.