[The horse as an aid in therapy].

This research examines the therapeutic potential of horseback riding, or hippotherapy, in aiding physical and psychological health management. The study denotes the therapeutic effect of this method, especially for patients with conditions like spasticity, ataxia, multiple sclerosis, and even post-stroke effects. Furthermore, the authors suggest this therapy could also serve as a beneficial tool for psychosomatic patients due to its emotive aspects and cost-effectiveness in comparison to hydrotherapy.

Research Context

• The authors posit that the therapeutic use of hippotherapy, despite its ancient roots, has not been fully explored or utilized within contemporary medical fields. They further suggest that modern medical therapy frequently overlooks the numerous natural therapeutic possibilities, focusing instead on overtechnologized methods.
• The study highlights that the researchers’ unit was the first of its kind to promote hippotherapy utilization among adults in Austria, primarily benefiting patients suffering from varied neurological conditions.

Bifocal Benefit of Hippotherapy

• The study identifies two key benefits of hippotherapy – the somatotropic and the general psychotherapeutic effects. The somatotropic effect directly influences the patients’ physical health, especially in regards to spasticity, ataxia, the vertebral column, the pelvis, and the skin.
• The psychotherapeutic benefits include enhancing joy, providing a refreshing change, and fostering motivation for rehabilitation. The opportunity for emotional contact with the horse, designated as a “comrade animal,” effectively boosts patients’ emotional health.

Effectiveness of Hippotherapy

• The research suggests impressive results from the application of hippotherapy in patients suffering from the spastic atactic component of multiple sclerosis. Other conditions, like post-stroke effects, also reportedly benefited from this therapy.
• The team also observed promising results from hippotherapy application to patients with cephalaea, which denotes it could serve as a valuable tool in medically oriented pedagogic contexts. The findings hint at expanding this therapy application to psychosomatic patients, with efforts being made in this direction.

Cost-Effectiveness of Hippotherapy

• The authors argue that well-organized hippotherapy is more cost-effective compared to common hydrotherapy. Therefore, they advocate for stripping the financial objections often leveled against hippotherapy.
• They find hippotherapy to be an important counterweight to the large-scale application of overtechnologized therapeutic methods. They endorse the therapy for its potential to serve as an effective holistic approach in rehabilitation therapy.