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Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation2007; 88(10); 1241-1248; doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2007.07.015

The effect of hippotherapy on spasticity and on mental well-being of persons with spinal cord injury.

Abstract: To determine the effect of hippotherapy on spasticity and on mental well-being of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), and to compare it with the effects of other interventions. Methods: Crossover trial with 4 conditions. Methods: Swiss paraplegic center. Methods: A volunteer sample of 12 people with spastic SCI (American Spinal Injury Association grade A or B). Methods: Hippotherapy, sitting astride a Bobath roll, and sitting on a stool with rocking seat. Each session lasted 25 minutes and was conducted twice weekly for 4 weeks; the control condition was spasticity measurement without intervention. Methods: Clinical rating by a blinded examiner of movement-provoked muscle resistance, using the Ashworth Scale; self-rating of spasticity by subjects on a visual analog scale (VAS); and mental well-being evaluated with the self-rated well-being scale Befindlichkeits-Skala of von Zerssen. Assessments were performed immediately after intervention sessions (short-term effect); data from the assessments were analyzed 3 to 4 days after the sessions to calculate the long-term effect. Results: By analyzing the clinically rated spasticity, only the effect of hippotherapy reached significance compared with the control condition (without intervention); median differences in the Ashworth scores' sum before and after hippotherapy sessions ranged between -8.0 and +0.5. There was a significant difference between the spasticity-reducing effect of hippotherapy and the other 2 interventions in self-rated spasticity by VAS; median differences of the VAS before and after hippotherapy sessions ranged between -4.6 and +0.05cm. There were no long-term effects on spasticity. Immediate improvements in the subjects' mental well-being were detected only after hippotherapy (P=.048). Conclusions: Hippotherapy is more efficient than sitting astride a Bobath roll or on a rocking seat in reducing spasticity temporarily. Hippotherapy had a positive short-term effect on subjects' mental well-being.
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Publication Date: 2007-10-03 PubMed ID: 17908564DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2007.07.015Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 examined the effect of hippotherapy (therapeutic horseback riding) on the reduction of spasticity, and improvement of mental well-being in people with severe spinal cord injuries, in comparison to other interventions. The study found that hippotherapy had a significant short-term effect in reducing spasticity and improving mental well-being.

Methods and Participants

  • The research was a crossover trial conducted at the Swiss Paraplegic Center.
  • 12 volunteers with severe spinal cord injuries participated. They had spasticity, an abnormal increase in muscle tone that causes muscle stiffness and uncontrolled spasms, as graded by the American Spinal Injury Association.
  • The interventions compared were hippotherapy, sitting astride a Bobath roll (a therapeutic tool used in recovering functional movements), and sitting on a stool with a rocking seat. The control condition involved spasticity measurements without any intervention.
  • Each intervention session lasted 25 minutes and was conducted twice weekly for 4 weeks.

Assessment Measures

  • Spasticity was clinically rated by a blind examiner using the Ashworth Scale, a measure widely used to assess muscle resistance in response to external movement.
  • Subjects also self-rated their spasticity on a visual analog scale (VAS).
  • Mental well-being was evaluated by subjects themselves using the well-being scale Befindlichkeits-Skala of von Zerssen.
  • Assessments were conducted after each intervention session to evaluate short-term effects, and data was analyzed 3 to 4 days later to evaluate any long-term effects.

Results

  • Results showed that hippotherapy had a significant influence on decreasing spasticity compared to the control condition and other interventions. After hippotherapy, median differences in the Ashworth scores ranged between -8.0 and +0.5, and median differences of the VAS ranged between -4.6 and +0.05cm.
  • However, no long-term effects on spasticity were observed.
  • Hippotherapy was the only intervention that improved subjects’ mental well-being in the short term.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that hippotherapy is more efficient than the other studied interventions in temporarily reducing spasticity.
  • Hippotherapy had a positive short-term effect on subjects’ mental well-being.

Cite This Article

APA
Lechner HE, Kakebeeke TH, Hegemann D, Baumberger M. (2007). The effect of hippotherapy on spasticity and on mental well-being of persons with spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 88(10), 1241-1248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2007.07.015

Publication

Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
ISSN: 0003-9993
NlmUniqueID: 2985158R
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 88
Issue: 10
Pages: 1241-1248

Researcher Affiliations

Lechner, Helga E
  • Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland. helga.lechner@paranet.ch
Kakebeeke, Tanja H
    Hegemann, Dörte
      Baumberger, Michael

        MeSH Terms

        • Adult
        • Aged
        • Animals
        • Cross-Over Studies
        • Female
        • Horses
        • Humans
        • Male
        • Mental Health
        • Middle Aged
        • Paraparesis, Spastic / rehabilitation
        • Physical Therapy Modalities
        • Spinal Cord Injuries / rehabilitation

        Citations

        This article has been cited 22 times.
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