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Annals of medicine2023; 55(2); 2249822; doi: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2249822

The effectiveness of hippotherapy simulation exercises for muscle strength, disease activity and quality of life in sedentary adults with ankylosing spondylitis.

Abstract: Newly created systems called hippotherapy simulators (HS) mimic the primitive movements of a live horse. As they are new systems, research examining their usefulness has been well received. The aim of this study is to research the effects of HS on disease activity, quality of life and muscle strength in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Unassigned: In a prospective, assessor-blinded, block-randomized trial, 48 AS patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either HS or conventional home (CH) exercise therapy. All Participants received 48 sessions, that is 4 sessions a week for 12 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome measures included the quadriceps muscle strength, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Scale (ASQoL). Unassigned: Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, ASQoL and muscle strength scores compared to the baseline ( < 0.05). BASDAI, BASFI and BASMI scores decreased significantly in the HS group compared to the CH group at week 12 (=.005, =.003, =.045, respectively), but there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of ASQoL and muscle strength scores at week 12 (=.245, =.212, respectively). Unassigned: The results of this clinical trial of HS exercises for AS patients indicate a positive effect on disease activity, quality of life and muscle strength. Therefore, horse-riding simulator exercises can be used as an alternative method for the management of individuals with AS. Hippotherapy simulator exercises indicate a positive effect on disease activity, functionality and muscle strength in people with ankylosing spondylitisFor people with ankylosing spondylitis, hippotherapy simulator exercises are a safe workout for the spine that uses the core muscles.For people with ankylosing spondylitis, the hippotherapy simulator technique can be recommended as a long-lasting and affordable fitness program in the near future.To determine the efficacy of hippotherapy simulation exercise on other systemic chronic inflammatory disease future research are needed.
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Publication Date: 2023-08-29 PubMed ID: 37643349PubMed Central: PMC10467537DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2249822Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Journal Article

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.

The research article investigates the effects of hippotherapy simulators (simulations of horse movements) on muscle strength, disease activity, and quality of life in adults with a condition called ankylosing spondylitis. The results suggest that these simulation exercises can have positive effects and may be a potential treatment method.

Methodology

  • In this study, hippotherapy simulation exercises were compared with traditional home exercise therapies.
  • The research was structured as a prospective, assessor-blinded, block-randomized trial. This means that the trial was designed without the researchers knowing which participants received which treatment until after the results were evaluated, to prevent bias.
  • A total of 48 ankylosing spondylitis patients were randomly divided into two groups. One used a hippotherapy simulator (HS) for their exercises, and the other performed conventional home (CH) exercises.
  • All participants underwent 48 sessions of their assigned exercise program, with four sessions each week over 12 weeks.
  • They measured the effectiveness of the exercises based on muscle strength, several standardized ankylosing spondylitis measurements (BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI), and a general quality of life measure (ASQoL).

Findings

  • Both HS and CH groups saw significant improvement in all measured aspects compared to their baseline status.
  • The group using the hippotherapy simulator demonstrated a more significant reduction in BASDAI, BASFI, and BASMI scores compared to those who used traditional home exercise methods.
  • However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of quality of life and muscle strength scores at the end of the 12 weeks.

Conclusions

  • The results of this clinical trial suggest that exercises using a hippotherapy simulator can have a positive effect on disease activity, quality of life and muscle strength for patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
  • Therefore, this simulator can potentially be used as an alternative treatment method.
  • However, the study also suggests that more research is required to confirm these findings and test the efficacy of this kind of exercise on other chronic inflammatory diseases.

Cite This Article

APA
Salbaş E, Karahan AY. (2023). The effectiveness of hippotherapy simulation exercises for muscle strength, disease activity and quality of life in sedentary adults with ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Med, 55(2), 2249822. https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2023.2249822

Publication

Annals of medicine
ISSN: 1365-2060
NlmUniqueID: 8906388
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 2
Pages: 2249822
PII: 2249822

Researcher Affiliations

Salbaş, Ender
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Bandirma Training and Research Hospital, Balikesir, Turkey.
Karahan, Ali Yavuz
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Usak University, Usak, Turkey.

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Quality of Life
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Spondylitis, Ankylosing / therapy
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Muscle Strength

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Ye G, Gao L, Liu C, Huang J, Zheng X, Gao Y, Wang H, Wang H. The effectiveness of different exercise mode interventions in improving disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a network and dose-dependent meta-analysis. Front Physiol 2025;16:1715944.
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  2. Kong L, Yu C, Wang C, Meng Z. Comparative efficacy of different exercise interventions in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. PeerJ 2025;13:e20336.
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