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Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy2020; 25(4); e1870; doi: 10.1002/pri.1870

Effects of horse riding simulator on sitting motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Abstract: Horse riding simulator (HRS) is an electronic horse, working under the principles of hippotherapy. It is one of the advanced therapeutic methods to improve postural control and balance in sitting, which could be recommended in the rehabilitation of cerebral palsy if real horses are unavailable. Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of HRS on sitting motor function in children with spastic diplegia and evaluate the changes in sitting motor function at different periods of time (4, 8 and 12 weeks). Methods: This study is a randomized controlled trial conducted over a period of 12 weeks. Thirty children with spastic diplegia age between 2 and 4 years with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level I-III were included and divided into two groups. The control group received the conventional physiotherapy while the experimental group received HRS along with conventional physiotherapy. Sitting motor function was assessed by Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88 (sitting dimension B) at baseline, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention scores were measured and analysed. Results: The baseline characteristics were similar in both groups before the intervention with p > .01. The observed mean value of GMFM in both groups improved over a period of 12 weeks. The results denote that the sitting motor function gradually improved over a period of time in both groups and the experimental group showed significant improvement (p < .01) than the control group in all the weeks. Conclusions: The study results confirmed that gradual improvement in sitting motor function was observed in both groups. Children exposed to HRS show better improvement than the children in the control group. It was concluded that HRS is effective in improving the sitting motor function in children with spastic diplegia and the continuous provision of HRS in longer duration provide more benefits than the shorter duration.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2020-08-18 PubMed ID: 32808394DOI: 10.1002/pri.1870Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

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 investigates how a horse riding simulator improves sitting motor function in children with spastic diplegia – a form of cerebral palsy – over 12 weeks, demonstrating that the children exposed to the simulator experienced greater improvement in their motor function than those who received just conventional physiotherapy.

Explanation of the Research Paper

  • The article is focused on understanding the therapeutic impact of a horse riding simulator (HRS) on children suffering from spastic diplegia, a type of cerebral palsy. The HRS emulates hippotherapy – a treatment that utilizes horse riding to enhance physical, occupational, and speech-language skills, with the HRS offering a practical alternative when actual horses are inaccessible.
  • The researchers designed a random controlled trial in which they divided 30 spastic diplegia patients, aged between 2 and 4, into two groups. One group underwent traditional physiotherapy treatment procedures, acting as the control group, while the other group—the experimental group—experienced physiotherapy in conjunction with HRS intervention. The duration of the study was 12 weeks.

    • Research Methodology

  • The study employed the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) to classify the sample population. Afterward, the researchers employed the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88, specifically the sitting dimension B, to evaluate the sitting motor function of the participating children. The evaluations were conducted before the experiment began, and then after 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-intervention.

    • Results of the Study

  • The researchers observed that the base characteristics of both groups showed no significant difference before the intervention. Nonetheless, upon administering the treatment procedures over 12 weeks, the GMFM scores of the children improved progressively in both groups. However, the group that was exposed to the HRS showed a significantly (p < .01) enhanced improvement over time in all the weeks compared to the control group.

    • Conclusion of the Study

  • In their conclusion, the researchers emphasize that the HRS is highly effective in enhancing sitting motor function in children with spastic diplegia. The results affirm the superiority of HRS intervention over traditional physiotherapy in improving the motor function over a longer duration. Therefore, the continuous application of HRS over an extended period yields more benefits than short durations.

Cite This Article

APA
Chinniah H, Natarajan M, Ramanathan R, Ambrose JWF. (2020). Effects of horse riding simulator on sitting motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Physiother Res Int, 25(4), e1870. https://doi.org/10.1002/pri.1870

Publication

Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy
ISSN: 1471-2865
NlmUniqueID: 9612022
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 25
Issue: 4
Pages: e1870

Researcher Affiliations

Chinniah, Hemachithra
  • Division of PM&R, RMMC&H, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
Natarajan, Meena
  • Division of PM&R, RMMC&H, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
Ramanathan, Ramanathan
  • Department of Paediatrics, RMMC&H, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
Ambrose, John William Felix
  • RMMC, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cerebral Palsy / rehabilitation
  • Child
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy / methods
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Motor Skills / physiology
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Postural Balance / physiology
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Sitting Position
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

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This article includes 39 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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