Hippotherapy concepts: A scoping review to inform transdisciplinary practice guidelines.
Abstract: Hippotherapy, an equine-assisted service, uses the movement of the horse as a treatment tool. Hippotherapy is often used by occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech and language pathologists. To optimise hippotherapy and facilitate the development of transdisciplinary hippotherapy practise guidelines, this scoping review identified novel hippotherapy concepts used during hippotherapy interventions for clients with spastic cerebral palsy.
Publication Date: 2023-07-26 PubMed ID: 37493646DOI: 10.1080/11038128.2023.2231562Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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Background
- Hippotherapy is an equine-assisted service that uses horse movement as a therapeutic tool.
- It is utilized by professionals like occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech and language pathologists.
- Understanding concepts in hippotherapy can aid in its optimization and the formulation of best practice guidelines for spastic cerebral palsy patients.
Aim
- The primary goal is to explore and detail the underlying concepts of hippotherapy practices designed for clients with spastic cerebral palsy.
Methods
- The research design was exploratory and descriptive with a qualitative approach.
- The study utilized Arksey and O’Malley’s five stages of a scoping review to structure its research and findings.
Results
- 19 distinct hippotherapy concepts were identified and documented.
Conclusions
- Hippotherapy is a multifaceted therapy with numerous concepts.
- The findings have aided in developing guidelines for hippotherapy practices for spastic cerebral palsy clients.
Significance
- Incorporating the identified hippotherapy concepts can enlighten therapists on effective treatments.
- Clients will benefit from these integrated practices.
- This study also sets the foundation for future research in hippotherapy.
Cite This Article
APA
du Plessis N, Uys K, Buys T.
(2023).
Hippotherapy concepts: A scoping review to inform transdisciplinary practice guidelines.
Scand J Occup Ther, 1-17.
https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2023.2231562 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Seery R, Graham-Wisener L, Wells DL. A Qualitative Exploration of the Lived Experiences and Perspectives of Equine-Assisted Services Practitioners in the UK and Ireland. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 30;15(15).
- Visser EK, Jens AL, Nieuwe Weme LE, Spaapen AA, Maarleveld KN, Enzerink KH, Tromp PN, Haven-Pross SC. Assessing Equine Behavioural Responses in Equine-Assisted Services: A Field Study Analysis. Animals (Basel) 2025 Feb 25;15(5).
- Ramezani K, Kalantari M, Pashmdarfard M, Akbarzadeh Baghba A, Khavari G. Impacts of hippotherapy simulation on balance, postural control, and spasticity of thigh adductor muscles in children with spastic bilateral Cerebral Palsy: A single-blind clinical trial study. Iran J Child Neurol 2025;19(1):79-96.
- Seery R, Wells D. An Exploratory Study into the Backgrounds and Perspectives of Equine-Assisted Service Practitioners. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jan 22;14(2).
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