The effect of hippotherapy on postural control in sitting for children with cerebral palsy.

This research article explores the impact of a 10-week hippotherapy program on postural control in sitting for three young children with cerebral palsy, finding no measurable gains in the standardized outcome measures, but evidencing positive parental feedback about improved range of motion and head control.

Overview

• The article is centered around a study conducted to assess the effects of hippotherapy – a treatment that uses horse riding as a therapeutic or rehabilitative treatment, especially as a means of improving coordination, balance, and strength – on postural control among children suffering from cerebral palsy. This neurological disorder significantly impairs motor function.

Study Design

• Participants included three children aged between 27-54 months with cerebral palsy. The children were rated Level V on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), indicating the highest level of disability.
• The study is structured as a single subject research, meaning it uses a single participant to explore the impact of the intervention. This design is particularly relevant for studying treatments for rare conditions.
• The study ran for a 10-week period, with hippotherapy sessions conducted once per week.

Methodology

• The Sitting Dimension of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) was used to determine the sitting abilities of the children at baseline, and was administered every 2 weeks during intervention.
• The Sitting Assessment Scale and the GMFM were administered before, after, and 4 weeks post-intervention to measure the effect of the intervention.
• Parental perceptions of the hippotherapy intervention were captured through questionnaires.

Results

• The study found no measurable gains on any of the standardized outcome measures for any of the participants.
• On the other hand, parents’ subjective assessment was positive, reporting improvements in their children’s range of motion and head control, despite these outcomes not being measured by the GMFM.

Implication

• The results of this study suggest that while hippotherapy may not show measurable improvements in the standardized outcome measures used to assess motor function among children with cerebral palsy. However, the reported improvements in unmeasured areas like range of motion and head control warrant further research.