Therapeutic Effects of Horseback Riding Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Abstract: Equine-assisted therapies, such as therapeutic riding and hippotherapy, are believed to have positive physical and emotional effects in individuals with neuromotor, developmental, and physical disabilities. The purpose of this review was to determine whether therapeutic riding and hippotherapy improve balance, motor function, gait, muscle symmetry, pelvic movement, psychosocial parameters, and the patients' overall quality of life. Methods: In this study, a literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, CINAHL, MBASE, SportDiscus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, PEDro, DARE, Google Scholar, and Dissertation Abstracts. Only studies with a control/comparison group or self-controlled studies performing preintervention and postintervention assessment were included. Excluded were (1) studies not providing data on baseline score or end-point outcome, (2) single-subject studies, (3) studies providing only qualitative data, and (4) studies that used a mechanical horse. Sixteen trials were included. The methodologic quality of each study was evaluated using Downs and Black quality assessment tool. Results: Most of the studies showed a trend toward a beneficial effect of therapeutic riding and hippotherapy on balance and gross motor function. The meta-analysis showed improvement in both the Berg Balance Scale and the Gross Motor Function Measure in therapeutic riding and hippotherapy programs. Conclusions: Programs such as therapeutic riding and hippotherapy are a viable intervention option for patients with balance, gait, and psychomotor disorders.
Publication Date: 2017-03-03 PubMed ID: 28252520DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000726Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Meta-Analysis
- Review
- Systematic Review
Summary
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The research article is about conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the therapeutic effects of horseback riding interventions, such as therapeutic riding and hippotherapy, on individuals with various physical and emotional disorders.
Objective and Methodology of the Study
- This research conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of previous studies on equine-assisted therapies, such as therapeutic riding and hippotherapy, with the objective of determining their therapeutic effects on individuals with neuromotor, developmental, and physical disabilities.
- The researchers primarily focused on whether these therapies improved balance, motor function, gait, muscle symmetry, pelvic movement, psychosocial parameters and the patients’ overall quality of life.
- The literature search for this research was conducted on various medical and academic databases. The inclusion criteria were studies with a control or comparison group and studies that performed pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments.
Exclusion Criteria and Study Selection
- The researchers excluded studies which didn’t provide data on baseline score or end-point outcome, single subject studies, studies providing only qualitative data and studies that used a mechanical horse.
- After applying these inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 trials were selected for the meta-analysis. These trials were further evaluated for their methodologic quality using Downs and Black quality assessment tool.
Findings of the Study
- According to the meta-analysis, most of the studies showed a potential beneficial effect of therapeutic riding and hippotherapy on the improvement of balance and gross motor function of patients.
- The Berg Balance Scale and the Gross Motor Function Measure indicated improvements in patients who underwent therapeutic riding and hippotherapy programs.
Conclusion
- The conclusion drawn from this research was that equine-assisted therapies, like therapeutic riding and hippotherapy, are viable intervention options for patients with balance, gait, and psychomotor disorders. These therapies could effectively improve the physical and psychosocial aspects of patients’ lives.
Cite This Article
APA
Stergiou A, Tzoufi M, Ntzani E, Varvarousis D, Beris A, Ploumis A.
(2017).
Therapeutic Effects of Horseback Riding Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 96(10), 717-725.
https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000000726 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- From the School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Greece.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Disabled Persons / psychology
- Disabled Persons / rehabilitation
- Equine-Assisted Therapy
- Gait
- Horses
- Humans
- Postural Balance
- Quality of Life
Citations
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- Abdel-Aziem AA, Abdelraouf OR, Ghally SA, Dahlawi HA, Radwan RE. A 10-Week Program of Combined Hippotherapy and Scroth's Exercises Improves Balance and Postural Asymmetries in Adolescence Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Randomized Controlled Study. Children (Basel) 2021 Dec 30;9(1).
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