Experience of using hippotherapy in complex effects on muscle spirals in children with spastic forms of cerebral palsy.

The research involves using hippotherapy (therapeutic horseback riding) alongside traditional treatments for children with spastic forms of cerebral palsy. The objective was to determine if hippotherapy can aid in postural and motor learning, psychophysical optimization, and patient motivation, and to define the optimal frequency and duration of hippotherapy sessions.

Research Background

• The research focuses on the use of hippotherapy, a therapy using horses, for the rehabilitation of children with spastic forms of cerebral palsy.
• Children with cerebral palsy usually have problems with movement and posture due to brain damage. Spastic cerebral palsy is a form characterized by increased muscle tone, which results in stiff and awkward movements.

Research Objectives

• The study aimed to understand if hippotherapy could be a beneficial addition to other outpatient treatments undergone by these children. Primarily, the researchers wanted to study the impact of hippotherapy on children’s ability to learn new postures and movements.
• Additionally, they wanted to investigate if hippotherapy could improve the psychophysical state of the children, motivating them further for treatment.
• Finding the optimal frequency and duration of hippotherapy sessions was another key objective.

Research Methodology

• The study was conducted at “Wind of Change” Ippotsentra between 2010 and 2013. Thirty-six children with spastic forms of cerebral palsy were part of the main research group.
• The children underwent hippotherapy sessions twice daily for 10 to 12 days. Each session lasted 30 minutes.

Research Findings

• From the results, it was seen that integrating hippotherapy with traditional physical therapy was beneficial. The children were able to learn and adapt to new postures and movements after 4-5 days of training.
• Notably, hipteraphy did not cause any additional complications in the physical or emotional states of the children. In fact, it aided in stimulating both sensory and motor development.
• The muscle tone of children undergoing hippotherapy remained normalized for an extended period (up to three months), which was longer compared to traditional physiotherapy alone.
• It was concluded that hippotherapy can be a useful tool for teaching new body postures and preparing children for walking exercises.