Study of the therapeutic effects of an advanced hippotherapy simulator in children with cerebral palsy: a randomised controlled trial.
Abstract: Although hippotherapy treatment has been demonstrated to have therapeutic effects on children with cerebral palsy, the samples used in research studies have been very small. In the case of hippotherapy simulators, there are no studies that either recommend or advise against their use in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy. The aim of this randomised clinical study is to analyse the therapeutic effects or the contraindications of the use of a commercial hippotherapy simulator on several important factors relating to children with cerebral palsy such as their motor development, balance control in the sitting posture, hip abduction range of motion and electromyographic activity of adductor musculature. Methods: The study is a randomised controlled trial. It will be carried out with a sample of 37 children with cerebral palsy divided into two treatment groups. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to receive either (a) Treatment Group with hippotherapy simulator, maintaining sitting posture, with legs in abduction and rhythmic movement of the simulator or (b) Treatment Group maintaining sitting posture, with legs in abduction and without rhythmic movement of the simulator. Methods: all measurements will be carried out by a specially trained blind assessor. To ensure standardization quality of the assessors, an inter-examiner agreement will be worked out at the start of the study. The trial is funded by the Department of Research, Innovation and Development of the Regional Government of Aragon (Official Bulletin of Aragon 23 July 2007), project number PM059/2007. Conclusions: Interest in this project is due to the following factors: Clinical originality (there are no previous studies analysing the effect of simulators on the population group of children with CP, nor any studies using as many variables as this project); Clinical impact (infantile cerebral palsy is a chronic multisystemic condition that affects not only the patient but also the patient's family and their close circle of friends); Practical benefits (the development of an effective treatment is very important for introducing this element into the rehabilitation of these children). Background: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN03663478.
Publication Date: 2010-04-16 PubMed ID: 20398394PubMed Central: PMC2864204DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-71Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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 analyzes the effectiveness of a commercial hippotherapy simulator as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy. The primary focus of the randomised controlled trial is to study the impact of this simulator on key factors such as motor development, balance, hip abduction range of motion, and muscle activity in children with cerebral palsy.
Methodology
- The study employs a randomized controlled trial method.
- The research sample consists of 37 children with cerebral palsy, divided into two treatment groups.
- The first group of children receives treatment with a hippotherapy simulator, maintaining a sitting posture, with their legs in abduction and with the rhythmic movement of the simulator.
- The second group also maintains a sitting posture with their legs in abduction, but without the rhythmic movement of the simulator.
- All measurements are taken by a specially trained assessor who is not aware of the group allocation of participants, ensuring a blind assessment and reducing bias.
- To maintain standardization quality, the study initiates an inter-examiner agreement at the beginning of the project.
Funding and Justification
- The trial is sponsored by the Department of Research, Innovation, and Development of the Regional Government of Aragon, project number PM059/2007.
- The investigation is significant due to its clinical originality – there are no previous studies assessing the effects of simulators on children with cerebral palsy or incorporating the number of variables as this project.
- The research holds potential clinical impact considering that cerebral palsy is a chronic multisystemic condition that affects the patient, their family, and immediate circles.
- The practical benefits include the prospects of developing an effective treatment method and considering hippotherapy simulation as a vital tool in rehabilitating children with cerebral palsy.
Background Research and Trial Registration
- The research acknowledges the existing studies proving the therapeutic effects of hippotherapy on children with cerebral palsy, albeit with very small samples.
- It also recognizes the knowledge gap as there are no current studies recommending or advising against the use of hippotherapy simulators in treating cerebral palsy in children.
- The details of the trial are registered under Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN03663478.
Cite This Article
APA
Herrero P, Asensio A, García E, Marco A, Oliván B, Ibarz A, Gómez-Trullén EM, Casas R.
(2010).
Study of the therapeutic effects of an advanced hippotherapy simulator in children with cerebral palsy: a randomised controlled trial.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 11, 71.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-11-71 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge, Autovía A 23 Zaragoza-Huesca, km 510, 50830 Villanueva de Gállego Zaragoza, Spain. pherrero@usj.es
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Animals
- Cerebral Palsy / physiopathology
- Cerebral Palsy / therapy
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Clinical Trials as Topic / instrumentation
- Clinical Trials as Topic / methods
- Disability Evaluation
- Equine-Assisted Therapy / instrumentation
- Equine-Assisted Therapy / methods
- Exercise Therapy / instrumentation
- Exercise Therapy / methods
- Female
- Gait / physiology
- Hip Joint / physiopathology
- Horses / physiology
- Humans
- Male
- Motor Skills Disorders / physiopathology
- Motor Skills Disorders / therapy
- Muscle Strength / physiology
- Muscle Weakness / physiopathology
- Muscle Weakness / therapy
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology
- Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods
- Periodicity
- Physical Therapy Modalities / standards
- Postural Balance / physiology
- Range of Motion, Articular / physiology
- Research Design
- Robotics / instrumentation
- Robotics / methods
References
This article includes 21 references
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Ayala MD, Carrillo A, Iniesta P, Ferrer P. Pilot Study of the Influence of Equine Assisted Therapy on Physiological and Behavioral Parameters Related to Welfare of Horses and Patients.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Dec 10;11(12).
- Viruega H, Gaillard I, Carr J, Greenwood B, Gaviria M. Short- and Mid-Term Improvement of Postural Balance after a Neurorehabilitation Program via Hippotherapy in Patients with Sensorimotor Impairment after Cerebral Palsy: A Preliminary Kinetic Approach.. Brain Sci 2019 Sep 29;9(10).
- Ryan JM, Cassidy EE, Noorduyn SG, O'Connell NE. Exercise interventions for cerebral palsy.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017 Jun 11;6(6):CD011660.
- Yoo JH, Oh Y, Jang B, Song J, Kim J, Kim S, Lee J, Shin HY, Kwon JY, Kim YH, Jeong B, Joung YS. The Effects of Equine-assisted Activities and Therapy on Resting-state Brain Function in Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Pilot Study.. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci 2016 Nov 30;14(4):357-364.
- 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.
- Elmacı DT, Cevizci S. Dog-assisted therapies and activities in rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy and physical and mental disabilities.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2015 May 12;12(5):5046-60.
- Baik K, Byeun JK, Baek JK. The effects of horseback riding participation on the muscle tone and range of motion for children with spastic cerebral palsy.. J Exerc Rehabil 2014 Oct;10(5):265-70.
- Lee CW, Kim SG, Yong MS. Effects of hippotherapy on recovery of gait and balance ability in patients with stroke.. J Phys Ther Sci 2014 Feb;26(2):309-11.
- Han JY, Kim JM, Kim SK, Chung JS, Lee HC, Lim JK, Lee J, Park KY. Therapeutic effects of mechanical horseback riding on gait and balance ability in stroke patients.. Ann Rehabil Med 2012 Dec;36(6):762-9.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
