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Home / Equine Research Bank / Rev Bras Fisioter / Effect of equine-assisted therapy on the postural balance of...
Revista brasileira de fisioterapia (Sao Carlos (Sao Paulo, Brazil))2011; 15(5); 414-419; doi: 10.1590/s1413-35552011005000027

Effect of equine-assisted therapy on the postural balance of the elderly.

Abstract: To determine whether equine-assisted therapy (hippotherapy) produces alterations in the balance of the elderly. Methods: The sample included 17 older adults who were divided into experimental (7 subjects) and control (10 subjects) groups. Stabilometry data were acquired with a force platform. The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) was used for clinical analysis of seated balance, transfer from a seated to a standing position, walking stability and changes in gait. Sixteen equine-assisted therapy sessions were carried out. Results: Mann-Witney was used to compare the means between groups and no significant differences were found in the analyzed stabilometric parameters. In intragroup comparison with the Wilcoxon test, a significant increase in the variables COPy and Area (p=0.02) was observed. Equine-assisted therapy significantly affected (p=0.04) TUG test means between the experimental and control groups (Mann-Witney). Intragroup TUG test means were also significantly affected (p=0.04) according to the Wilcoxon test. Conclusions: Because senescence tends to normalize stabilometric measures, the number of equine-assisted therapy sessions was insufficient to determine any differences. Nevertheless, the significant improvement in TUG test scores demonstrates that this treatment frequency was a predictor of reduced fall risk in the elderly. Article registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) under number ACTRN12610000534088.
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Publication Date: 2011-10-14 PubMed ID: 22002189DOI: 10.1590/s1413-35552011005000027Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 investigates the impact of equine-assisted therapy (also known as hippotherapy) on the balance of elderly individuals. It concluded that while the number of therapy sessions weren’t enough to note differences in stabilometric measures, considerable improvement was observed in Timed Up and Go (TUG) test scores – an indicator of reduced fall risk.

Research Method

  • The research involved a sample of 17 elderly participants, broken down into an experimental group (7 subjects) and a control group (10 subjects).
  • Stabilometry data were collected using a force platform, to measure changes in the subjects’ balance.
  • The Timed Up and Go test (TUG), which clinically evaluates seated balance, changes in gait, transfer from seated to standing position, and walking stability, was used.
  • The experimental group participated in 16 sessions of equine-assisted therapy.

Research Results

  • The Mann-Witney test was used to compare means between the control and experimental groups, revealing no notable differences in the stabilometric parameters considered.
  • However, a significant increase in the Center of Pressure in the y-direction (COPy) and Area variables was observed within the experimental group via the intragroup comparison using the Wilcoxon test (p=0.02).
  • The TUG test showcased significant variation (p=0.04) between the control and experimental groups according to the Mann-Witney test.
  • Likewise, a significant difference (p=0.04) in the TUG test means within the experimental group was identified using the Wilcoxon test.

Research Conclusions

  • The study found that, given senescence’s tendency to normalize stabilometric measures, the number of equine-assisted therapy sessions was inadequate to discern any differences.
  • In spite of this, the significant improvement in the TUG test scores demonstrates that the frequency of equine-assisted therapy was a reliable predictor of reduced fall risk among the elderly.
  • The research is registered under the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) with the number ACTRN12610000534088.

Cite This Article

APA
Araujo TB, Silva NA, Costa JN, Pereira MM, Safons MP. (2011). Effect of equine-assisted therapy on the postural balance of the elderly. Rev Bras Fisioter, 15(5), 414-419. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1413-35552011005000027

Publication

Revista brasileira de fisioterapia (Sao Carlos (Sao Paulo, Brazil))
NlmUniqueID: 101186153
Country: Brazil
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 5
Pages: 414-419
PII: S1413-35552011005000027

Researcher Affiliations

Araujo, Thais B
  • Faculty of Physical Education, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brasil. fisioterapeuta.thais@gmail.com
Silva, Nélida A
    Costa, Juliana N
      Pereira, Marcio M
        Safons, Marisete P

          MeSH Terms

          • Aged
          • Aged, 80 and over
          • Equine-Assisted Therapy
          • Female
          • Humans
          • Male
          • Middle Aged
          • Postural Balance

          Citations

          This article has been cited 12 times.
          1. Badin L, Alibran É, Pothier K, Bailly N. Effects of equine-assisted interventions on older adults' health: A systematic review. Int J Nurs Sci 2022 Oct;9(4):542-552.
            doi: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2022.09.008pubmed: 36285074google scholar: lookup
          2. 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
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          4. Viruega H, Gaillard I, Carr J, Greenwood B, Gaviria M. Short- and Mid-Term Improvement of Postural Balance after a Neurorehabilitation Program via Hippotherapy in Patients with Sensorimotor Impairment after Cerebral Palsy: A Preliminary Kinetic Approach. Brain Sci 2019 Sep 29;9(10).
            doi: 10.3390/brainsci9100261pubmed: 31569505google scholar: lookup
          5. Hemingway A, Carter S, Callaway A, Kavanagh E, Ellis S. An Exploration of the Mechanism of Action of an Equine-Assisted Intervention. Animals (Basel) 2019 May 31;9(6).
            doi: 10.3390/ani9060303pubmed: 31159199google scholar: lookup
          6. Johnson RA, Albright DL, Marzolf JR, Bibbo JL, Yaglom HD, Crowder SM, Carlisle GK, Willard A, Russell CL, Grindler K, Osterlind S, Wassman M, Harms N. Effects of therapeutic horseback riding on post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans. Mil Med Res 2018 Jan 19;5(1):3.
            doi: 10.1186/s40779-018-0149-6pubmed: 29502529google scholar: lookup
          7. Lim JH, Cho WS, Lee SJ, Park CB, Park JS. Effects of mechanical horseback riding velocity on spinal alignment in young adults. J Phys Ther Sci 2016 Jun;28(6):1836-9.
            doi: 10.1589/jpts.28.1836pubmed: 27390428google scholar: lookup
          8. Mesquita LS, de Carvalho FT, Freire LS, Neto OP, Zângaro RA. Effects of two exercise protocols on postural balance of elderly women: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Geriatr 2015 Jun 2;15:61.
            doi: 10.1186/s12877-015-0059-3pubmed: 26033080google scholar: lookup
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          10. 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
          11. Stergiou AN, Ploumis A, Kamtsios S, Markozannes G, Christodoulou P, Varvarousis DN. Effects of Equine-Assisted Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med 2025 May 26;14(11).
            doi: 10.3390/jcm14113731pubmed: 40507494google scholar: lookup
          12. Albishi AM. Balance performance among horseback-rider compared to non-horseback-rider women in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024 May 24;103(21):e38291.
            doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038291pubmed: 38788034google scholar: lookup
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