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Home / Equine Research Bank / G Ital Med Lav Ergon / Effect of therapeutic horseback riding on balance and gait o...
Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro ed ergonomia2012; 33(4); 462-467;

Effect of therapeutic horseback riding on balance and gait of people with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: Exercise therapy is an important part of symptomatic and supportive treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). According to the literature, equine-assisted therapies--such as therapeutic horseback riding (THR) and hippotherapy (HT)--are exercise therapies that can have positive physical effects on coordination, muscle tone, postural alignment, stiffness/flexibility, endurance and strength, correcting abnormal movement patterns and improving gait and balance. While HT is known to have a positive effect on balance in PwMS, data about THR are limited. Objective: The aim of the present work was to determine the effect of THR on the balance and gait of ambulatory PwMS. Methods: Twenty-seven PwMS were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: 12 underwent THR and 15 traditional physiotherapy (for both groups, two series of 10 weekly sessions were performed). Before and after the study period, the following outcome measures were applied: Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Barthel Index, Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA). In addition, patients of the THR group underwent a gait analysis to assess spatiotemporal gait parameters and ground reaction forces. Results: The THR group showed a significant improvement in POMA scores (p<0.005) and two gait parameters: stride time (p<0.04) and ground reaction forces (p<0.01). No statistically significant change was found in the control group. Conclusions: The results of the study show that THR can improve balance and gait of ambulatory PwMS. Findings are preliminary, but promising and in line with the recent literature.
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Publication Date: 2012-03-29 PubMed ID: 22452106
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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 study explores the positive impact of therapeutic horseback riding (THR) on the balance and gait in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). It states that through THR, PwMS exhibited significant improvement in balance and certain gait parameters.

Study Objective and Method

  • The primary aim of this research was to understand the impact of therapeutic horseback riding (THR) on the balance and gait of individuals with multiple sclerosis who are ambulatory.
  • The researchers involved 27 PwMS in the study, dividing them into two groups. The first group consisting of 12 participants underwent THR while the second group consisting of 15 participants underwent traditional physiotherapy.
  • Both groups were subjected to two series of 10 weekly sessions.
  • The researchers applied various outcome measures like the Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Barthel Index, and Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) before and after the series of sessions.
  • The THR group was subjected to a gait analysis to measure spatiotemporal gait parameters and ground reaction forces.

Results and Conclusion

  • The results showed considerable improvement in the POMA scores (p<0.005), stride time (p<0.04), and ground reaction forces (p<0.01) in the group that underwent therapeutic horseback riding (THR).
  • No significant change was observed in the control group, which underwent traditional physiotherapy.
  • It was thus concluded that therapeutic horseback riding (THR) could lead to an improvement in the balance and gait of individuals who are ambulatory and have multiple sclerosis.
  • Though these findings are in a preliminary stage, they are promising and align with recent literature.

Cite This Article

APA
Muñoz-Lasa S, Ferriero G, Valero R, Gomez-Muñiz F, Rabini A, Varela E. (2012). Effect of therapeutic horseback riding on balance and gait of people with multiple sclerosis. G Ital Med Lav Ergon, 33(4), 462-467.

Publication

Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro ed ergonomia
ISSN: 1592-7830
NlmUniqueID: 9712708
Country: Italy
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 4
Pages: 462-467

Researcher Affiliations

Muñoz-Lasa, Susana
  • Universidad Complutense, Dept. de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, Madrid, España.
Ferriero, Giorgio
    Valero, Raquel
      Gomez-Muñiz, Fernando
        Rabini, Alessia
          Varela, Enrique

            MeSH Terms

            • Adult
            • Equine-Assisted Therapy
            • Female
            • Gait
            • Humans
            • Male
            • Middle Aged
            • Multiple Sclerosis / rehabilitation
            • Postural Balance

            Citations

            This article has been cited 14 times.
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            7. Pohl P, Carlsson G, Bunketorp Käll L, Nilsson M, Blomstrand C. A qualitative exploration of post-acute stroke participants' experiences of a multimodal intervention incorporating horseback riding. PLoS One 2018;13(9):e0203933.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203933pubmed: 30235246google scholar: lookup
            8. Koca TT, Ataseven H. What is hippotherapy? The indications and effectiveness of hippotherapy. North Clin Istanb 2015;2(3):247-252.
              doi: 10.14744/nci.2016.71601pubmed: 28058377google scholar: lookup
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            10. Bunketorp Käll L, Lundgren-Nilsson Å, Blomstrand C, Pekna M, Pekny M, Nilsson M. The effects of a rhythm and music-based therapy program and therapeutic riding in late recovery phase following stroke: a study protocol for a three-armed randomized controlled trial. BMC Neurol 2012 Nov 21;12:141.
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            11. González-Sala F, Llopiz-Guerra K, Ferri A, Martí-Vilar M. Parents' Perspectives on the Benefits of Animal-Assisted Intervention: A Systematic Review. Behav Sci (Basel) 2025 Dec 2;15(12).
              doi: 10.3390/bs15121663pubmed: 41464006google scholar: lookup
            12. Yang J, Li H, Zhang Y, Hu S, Yu Z. Effects of exercise on fatigue and quality of life in multiple sclerosis: a network meta-analysis and systematic review. J Neurol 2025 Sep 8;272(9):621.
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            13. 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
            14. 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
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