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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Rehabil Med / Pulmonary Function and Aerobic Capacity Responses to Equine ...
Journal of rehabilitation medicine2022; 54; jrm00296; doi: 10.2340/jrm.v54.1085

Pulmonary Function and Aerobic Capacity Responses to Equine Assisted Therapy in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract: Idiopathic scoliosis is a common spinal malalignment that negatively impacts the respiratory system and physical conditioning in adolescents. Equine-assisted therapy comprises therapeutic horseback riding that optimizes physical performance and mobility in a range of contexts. However, the influence of equine-assisted therapy on pulmonary function remains unclear. Objective: To examine the impact of 10 weeks of hippotherapy combined with Schroth exercises on pulmonary function and aerobic capacity in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Methods: A randomized controlled trial including 45 patients, randomly assigned to experimental and control groups, was performed. Patients in the experimental group received 15 30-min sessions of hippotherapy over a period of 10 weeks. The 2 groups attended a 60-min session of Schroth exercises 3 times/week for 10 weeks. Pulmonary function and functional capacity were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Pre- and post-intervention variables (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, MVV and 6MWT) revealed significant improvement in both groups (p < 0.05). The improvement in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The addition of hippotherapy to Schroth exercises resulted in improved pulmonary function and aerobic capacity in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.
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Publication Date: 2022-06-23 PubMed ID: 35652929PubMed Central: PMC9252090DOI: 10.2340/jrm.v54.1085Google 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.

This research article is about a study that examined the effects of equine-assisted therapy, in combination with Schroth exercises, on the pulmonary function and aerobic capacity of adolescents suffering from idiopathic scoliosis. The results showed notable improvements, indicating the therapy’s effectiveness.

Research Background and Objective

  • Idiopathic scoliosis, a common spinal misalignment problem in adolescents, affects the respiratory system and physical conditioning negatively. One of the treatments suggested in this context is equine-assisted therapy, which includes therapeutic horseback riding, known to improve physical performance and mobility.
  • However, it was unclear how this type of therapy influenced pulmonary function. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of 10 weeks of hippotherapy (equine-assisted therapy) combined with Schroth exercises on the pulmonary function and aerobic capacity of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

Research Methods

  • A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 45 patients. These participants were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group.
  • The experimental group underwent 15 30-minute sessions of hippotherapy over 10 weeks, while both groups attended 60-minute sessions of Schroth exercises three times a week for the same duration.
  • The researchers assessed the pulmonary function and functional capacity of the participants before and after the intervention.

Research Results

  • The outcomes of the pre- and post-intervention variables (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, MVV, and 6MWT) revealed significant improvements in both the experimental and control groups.
  • Furthermore, the experimental group demonstrated an improvement significantly better than the control group.

Research Conclusions

  • The research concluded that adding hippotherapy to Schroth exercises significantly enhanced the pulmonary function and aerobic capacity of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

Cite This Article

APA
Abdel Ghafar MA, Abdelraouf OR, Abdel-Aziem AA, Elnegamy TE, Mohamed ME, Yehia AM, Mousa GS. (2022). Pulmonary Function and Aerobic Capacity Responses to Equine Assisted Therapy in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Rehabil Med, 54, jrm00296. https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v54.1085

Publication

Journal of rehabilitation medicine
ISSN: 1651-2081
NlmUniqueID: 101088169
Country: Sweden
Language: English
Volume: 54
Pages: jrm00296
PII: 1085

Researcher Affiliations

Abdel Ghafar, Mohamed A
  • Physical Therapy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. pt12.jed@bmc.edu.sa.
Abdelraouf, Osama R
  • Physical Therapy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Abdel-Aziem, Amr A
  • Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Elnegamy, Tamer E
  • Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdelaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Mohamed, Mariam E
  • Physical Therapy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiovascular/Respiratory Disorders and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Yehia, Amr M
  • Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, 6th October University, Giza, Egypt.
Mousa, Gihan Samir
  • Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiovascular/Respiratory Disorders and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy
  • Exercise Therapy / methods
  • Exercise Tolerance
  • Humans
  • Lung / physiology
  • Scoliosis / therapy

Conflict of Interest Statement

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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  3. Wang L, Li X, Song Y, Liang J, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Zhou X, Du Q. Pulmonary function and exercise capacity in mild early-onset idiopathic scoliosis: a case‒control study. BMC Pediatr 2025 Apr 2;25(1):266.
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