FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Arch Phys Med Rehabil / The effect of hippotherapy on spasticity and on mental well-...
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.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2007-10-03 PubMed ID: 17908564DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2007.07.015Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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.
        1. Stergiou AN, Mattila-Rautiainen S, Varvarousis DN, Tzoufi M, Plyta P, Beris A, Ploumis A. The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1203481.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1203481pubmed: 37649564google scholar: lookup
        2. Wagner C, Grob C, Hediger K. Specific and Non-specific Factors of Animal-Assisted Interventions Considered in Research: A Systematic Review. Front Psychol 2022;13:931347.
          doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.931347pubmed: 35837630google scholar: lookup
        3. Hyun C, Kim K, Lee S, Ko N, Lee IS, Koh SE. The Short-term Effects of Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Horseback Riding on Spasticity in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Meta-analysis. Pediatr Phys Ther 2022 Apr 1;34(2):172-178.
          doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000880pubmed: 35184078google scholar: lookup
        4. Rodríguez-Martínez MDC, De la Plana Maestre A, Armenta-Peinado JA, Barbancho MÁ, García-Casares N. Evidence of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Neurological Diseases in Adults: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Dec 7;18(24).
          doi: 10.3390/ijerph182412882pubmed: 34948491google scholar: lookup
        5. Zhao M, Chen S, You Y, Wang Y, Zhang Y. Effects of a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program on Social Interaction and Communication in Children with Autism. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Mar 6;18(5).
          doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052656pubmed: 33800787google scholar: lookup
        6. Barbosa PHFA, Glinsky JV, Fachin-Martins E, Harvey LA. Physiotherapy interventions for the treatment of spasticity in people with spinal cord injury: a systematic review. Spinal Cord 2021 Mar;59(3):236-247.
          doi: 10.1038/s41393-020-00610-4pubmed: 33564117google scholar: lookup
        7. 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).
          doi: 10.3390/ani10101867pubmed: 33066258google scholar: lookup
        8. Scopa C, Contalbrigo L, Greco A, Lanatà A, Scilingo EP, Baragli P. Emotional Transfer in Human-Horse Interaction: New Perspectives on Equine Assisted Interventions. Animals (Basel) 2019 Nov 26;9(12).
          doi: 10.3390/ani9121030pubmed: 31779120google scholar: lookup
        9. Kinney AR, Eakman AM, Lassell R, Wood W. Equine-assisted interventions for veterans with service-related health conditions: a systematic mapping review. Mil Med Res 2019 Aug 29;6(1):28.
          doi: 10.1186/s40779-019-0217-6pubmed: 31462305google scholar: lookup
        10. Kwon S, Sung IY, Ko EJ, Kim HS. Effects of Therapeutic Horseback Riding on Cognition and Language in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disability: A Preliminary Study. Ann Rehabil Med 2019 Jun;43(3):279-288.
          doi: 10.5535/arm.2019.43.3.279pubmed: 31311249google scholar: lookup
        11. Baillet H, Leroy D, Vérin E, Delpouve C, Benguigui N, Komar J, Thouvarecq R. Effect of Mechanical Horse Practice as New Postural Training in Patients With Neurological Disorders: A Pilot Study. Front Psychol 2019;10:1035.
          doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01035pubmed: 31133944google scholar: lookup
        12. Goodworth AD, Barrett C, Rylander J, Garner B. Specificity and variability of trunk kinematics on a mechanical horse. Hum Mov Sci 2019 Feb;63:82-95.
          doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2018.11.007pubmed: 30503985google scholar: lookup
        13. Žalienė L, Mockevičienė D, Kreivinienė B, Razbadauskas A, Kleiva Ž, Kirkutis A. Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Riding for Children with Cerebral Palsy Gross Motor Functions. Biomed Res Int 2018;2018:4190249.
          doi: 10.1155/2018/4190249pubmed: 30069468google scholar: lookup
        14. Borgi M, Loliva D, Cerino S, Chiarotti F, Venerosi A, Bramini M, Nonnis E, Marcelli M, Vinti C, De Santis C, Bisacco F, Fagerlie M, Frascarelli M, Cirulli F. Effectiveness of a Standardized Equine-Assisted Therapy Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2016 Jan;46(1):1-9.
          doi: 10.1007/s10803-015-2530-6pubmed: 26210515google scholar: lookup
        15. Kim S, Yuk GC, Gak H. Effects of the horse riding simulator and ball exercises on balance of the elderly. J Phys Ther Sci 2013 Nov;25(11):1425-8.
          doi: 10.1589/jpts.25.1425pubmed: 24396203google scholar: lookup
        16. 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.
          doi: 10.5535/arm.2012.36.6.762pubmed: 23342307google scholar: lookup
        17. Sunwoo H, Chang WH, Kwon JY, Kim TW, Lee JY, Kim YH. Hippotherapy in adult patients with chronic brain disorders: a pilot study. Ann Rehabil Med 2012 Dec;36(6):756-61.
          doi: 10.5535/arm.2012.36.6.756pubmed: 23342306google scholar: lookup
        18. Bunketorp Käll L, Lundgren-Nilsson Å, Blomstrand C, Pekna M, Pekny M, Nilsson M. The effects of a rhythm and music-based therapy program and therapeutic riding in late recovery phase following stroke: a study protocol for a three-armed randomized controlled trial. BMC Neurol 2012 Nov 21;12:141.
          doi: 10.1186/1471-2377-12-141pubmed: 23171380google scholar: lookup
        19. Herrero P, Asensio A, García E, Marco A, Oliván B, Ibarz A, Gómez-Trullén EM, Casas R. Study of the therapeutic effects of an advanced hippotherapy simulator in children with cerebral palsy: a randomised controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2010 Apr 16;11:71.
          doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-71pubmed: 20398394google scholar: lookup
        20. Panzera M, Statelli A. Heart Rate Variability Spectral Analysis for Monitoring Autonomic Activation in a Donkey Involved in Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Single Subject Design During Animal-Assisted Therapy Sessions. Vet Sci 2025 Nov 28;12(12).
          doi: 10.3390/vetsci12121131pubmed: 41472111google scholar: lookup
        21. Williamson SD, Aaby AO, Ejersbo AO, Vestergaard MR, Ravn SL. Passive movement interventions and spasticity outcomes in individuals with spinal cord injury during rehabilitation: a scoping review. Spinal Cord 2025 Dec;63(12):633-641.
          doi: 10.1038/s41393-025-01141-6pubmed: 41193765google scholar: lookup
        22. Hediger K, Lunzenfichter M, Markzoll E, Arnskötter W, Schaudek M, Kluger G. Psychological aspects of hippotherapy for children with severe neurological impairment: An exploratory study. PLoS One 2025;20(4):e0320238.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320238pubmed: 40198572google scholar: lookup
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 99,359 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.