Influence of artificial saddle riding on postural stability in children with cerebral palsy.
Abstract: Stability of quiet upright stance was investigated in 25 children with cerebral palsy at the beginning and the end of a 3-month period of therapy involving 20 min microprocessor-controlled saddle riding, performed twice a week. The traditional parameters of postural sway based on the centre-of-pressure analysis (range, standard deviation, mean speed and mean radius) dropped significantly over time confirming advantageous influence of this treatment. As a complementary tool, an autoregressive modelling technique was used allowing us to establish after each single ride considerable decreases in the frequency of the feet adjustments, which represent the control variable of the postural system in sagittal plane. These changes reflect diminished ankle joints stiffness resulting from a single session, and are supposedly a basic reason for substantial progress of the patients. The autoregressive approach proved to be a powerful method, which corroborates and reinforces stabilographic investigations. The findings confirm that the therapy led to a noteworthy improvement in the postural performance of the CP children in sagittal as well in frontal planes. Moreover, they let us to infer about biomechanical properties of joints involved in maintaining posture, thus giving more insight into the operation of the neuro-muscular system and allowing us to better understand the reason of progress in motor control of posture.
Publication Date: 1999-09-30 PubMed ID: 10502649DOI: 10.1016/s0966-6362(99)00028-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article discusses a study investigating the effects of artificial saddle riding therapy on improving the postural stability of children with cerebral palsy (CP). The study found significant improvements in terms of traditional postural sway parameters, reduced frequencies of feet adjustments and diminished ankle joints stiffness, suggesting the therapy’s beneficial influence.
Study Sample and Methods
- The study involved 25 children suffering from cerebral palsy.
- The therapy involved microprocessor-controlled saddle riding for 20 minutes, administered twice a week over a period of three months.
- The postural stability was evaluated at the start and end of the therapy period.
- Traditional measures of postural sway, such as range, standard deviation, mean speed, and mean radius, were assessed.
- An autoregressive modelling technique was used to determine the frequency of feet adjustments – a control variable of the postural system in the sagittal plane.
Results of the Study
- The study found a significant decrease over time in the traditional parameters of postural sway, indicating the positive impact of the saddle riding therapy.
- The frequency of feet adjustments was also shown to considerably decrease after each saddle riding session.
- The changes indicate a decrease in the stiffness of ankle joints following every session.
Conclusion and Insights
- Therefore, the findings suggest that saddle riding therapy can lead to a substantial improvement in the postural performance of children with CP.
- The therapy can affect the biomechanical properties of joints involved in posture maintenance, providing further insights into the operation of the neuro-muscular system.
- Such understanding can help develop better methods to improve motor control of posture in patients with CP.
Cite This Article
APA
Kuczyński M, Słonka K.
(1999).
Influence of artificial saddle riding on postural stability in children with cerebral palsy.
Gait Posture, 10(2), 154-160.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0966-6362(99)00028-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory of Motor Control and Biosignal Analysis, Department of Gymnastics, Academy of Physical Education, A1.I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51 612, Wrocl&z.shtsls;aw, Poland. michkucz@netra.awf.wroc.pl
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Cerebral Palsy / physiopathology
- Cerebral Palsy / rehabilitation
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Female
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Play Therapy
- Postural Balance
- Posture / physiology
- Task Performance and Analysis
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Ali MS, Awad AS. Comparison of the efficacy of two interventions in ameliorating abdominal thickness and sitting function in children with diplegia. J Taibah Univ Med Sci 2022 Aug;17(4):548-555.
- Häusler M, Heussen N. Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of hippotherapy and related equine-assisted therapies on motor capabilities in children with cerebral palsy. Syst Rev 2020 Mar 5;9(1):48.
- Moraes AG, Copetti F, Angelo VR, Chiavoloni LL, David AC. The effects of hippotherapy on postural balance and functional ability in children with cerebral palsy. J Phys Ther Sci 2016 Aug;28(8):2220-6.
- Ritzmann R, Freyler K, Weltin E, Krause A, Gollhofer A. Load Dependency of Postural Control--Kinematic and Neuromuscular Changes in Response to over and under Load Conditions. PLoS One 2015;10(6):e0128400.
- Temcharoensuk P, Lekskulchai R, Akamanon C, Ritruechai P, Sutcharitpongsa S. Effect of horseback riding versus a dynamic and static horse riding simulator on sitting ability of children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. J Phys Ther Sci 2015 Jan;27(1):273-7.
- Lee D, Lee S, Park J. Effects of indoor horseback riding and virtual reality exercises on the dynamic balance ability of normal healthy adults. J Phys Ther Sci 2014 Dec;26(12):1903-5.
- Lee S, Lee D, Park J. Effects of the Indoor Horseback Riding Exercise on Electromyographic Activity and Balance in One-leg Standing. J Phys Ther Sci 2014 Sep;26(9):1445-7.
- Park J, Lee S, Lee J, Lee D. The effects of horseback riding simulator exercise on postural balance of chronic stroke patients. J Phys Ther Sci 2013 Sep;25(9):1169-72.
- Günay Yazıcı C, Özden F, Çoban O, Tarakçı D, Aydoğdu O, Sarı Z. The Effect of Hippotherapy Simulator-Assisted Therapy on Motor and Functional Outcomes in Children with Cerebral Palsy. Medicina (Kaunas) 2025 Oct 9;61(10).
- Wu M, Kim J, Gaebler-Spira D. Improving trunk posture control in children with CP through a cable-driven robotic hippotherapy: A randomized controlled feasibility study. Gait Posture 2024 Sep;113:209-214.
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