The effect of hippotherapy on functional outcomes for children with disabilities: a pilot study.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of hippotherapy on functional outcomes using the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) for children with physical disabilities. Methods: Participants included 4 children aged 5 to 9 years with physical impairments and/or documented motor delays. Individual measurable objectives were developed using the GAS for each child. Data were collected on each child every other week throughout the baseline and intervention phase over 1 year using a multiple single case experimental A-B design. Results: Three of the 4 children had a significant improvement in functional outcomes based on a standardized T-score formula from the GAS. Two of the 4 children had statistically significant results on the nonparametric binomial test following 6 months of intervention. Conclusions: This study represents an initial attempt to use the GAS in a single-case design with a variety of pediatric diagnoses.
Publication Date: 2008-08-16 PubMed ID: 18703965DOI: 10.1097/PEP.0b013e31818256cdGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article discusses the impact of hippotherapy (therapeutic horse riding) on functional outcomes in children with physical disabilities. The effects were measured using the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), and most children showcased improvement.
Research Methods
- The research involved four children between the ages of 5 and 9 who had physical impairments or documented motor delays.
- Each participant’s performance was measured using individual objectives. These objectives were planned according to the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) that allows setting and evaluating the progression of goals in rehabilitation.
- The study gathered data from each participant on an alternate-week basis across both the baseline and intervention phase, a period that lasted one year.
- The researchers implemented a single-case experimental A-B design. In this type of design, a participant’s baseline (A) behavior is compared with their behavior after they have received an intervention (B).
Research Findings
- Of the four children, three showed significant progress in functional outcomes as denoted by a standardized T-score formula used along with the GAS.
- Also, in two of the four children, statistically significant results were evident through the nonparametric binomial test after six months of intervention.
Conclusions
- This study serves as an initial attempt to utilize the Goal Attainment Scale in a single-case design method with a range of pediatric diagnoses.
- The data suggests that hippotherapy can serve as a beneficial method for improving functional outcomes in children dealing with physical disabilities.
Cite This Article
APA
Murphy D, Kahn-D'Angelo L, Gleason J.
(2008).
The effect of hippotherapy on functional outcomes for children with disabilities: a pilot study.
Pediatr Phys Ther, 20(3), 264-270.
https://doi.org/10.1097/PEP.0b013e31818256cd Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. deirdra_murphy@uml.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Developmental Disabilities / physiopathology
- Developmental Disabilities / psychology
- Developmental Disabilities / rehabilitation
- Disabled Children / psychology
- Disabled Children / rehabilitation
- Goals
- Horses
- Humans
- Physical Therapy Modalities
- Pilot Projects
- Posture / physiology
- Sports
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Cheng X, Kong X, Fan Y, Wang X, Li Z, Wu H. Effects of Equine-Assistant Activity on Gross Motor Coordination in Children Aged 8 to 10 Years.. J Healthc Eng 2022;2022:3623686.
- Panzera M, Alberghina D, Statelli A. Ethological and Physiological Parameters Assessment in Donkeys Used in Animal Assisted Interventions.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 13;10(10).
- Noh HJ, Kim CM, Park JW. A study on muscle activity based on the ankle posture for effective exercise with indoor horse riding machine.. J Phys Ther Sci 2019 Feb;31(2):170-174.
- Sung BJ, Jeon SY, Lim SR, Lee KE, Jee H. Equestrian expertise affecting physical fitness, body compositions, lactate, heart rate and calorie consumption of elite horse riding players.. J Exerc Rehabil 2015 Jun;11(3):175-81.
- 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.
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