Therapeutic horse back riding of a spinal cord injured veteran: a case study.

This research article presents a case study of a veteran with an incomplete spinal cord injury who experienced both physical and psychological benefits after participating in a therapeutic horseback riding program known as Horses for Heroes.

Methodology

• The researchers employed a nationwide therapeutic riding program, Horses for Heroes, established in 2007 for America’s wounded service veterans.
• A Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse from the Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center worked closely with the veteran participating in this program.

Findings

• The Therapeutic horseback riding program demonstrated various benefits for the participating veteran.
• Physical benefits included an increase in balance and muscle strength, crucial aspects for a spinal cord injured individual.
• Simultaneously, the activities helped improve the veteran’s self-esteem, indicating psychological benefits.
• The research thus concluded that the therapeutic riding program can offer physical, psychological, and psychosocial benefits for spinal cord injured individuals.

Implications and Conclusions

• Therapeutic riding is identified as an emerging field where horses are used as tools for physical therapy, emotional growth, and learning. This novel approach provides a series of benefits outside traditional rehabilitation settings.
• The authors suggest that veterans returning from war, particularly those from Iraq and Afghanistan, with traumatic brain injuries, blast injuries, depression, traumatic amputations, and spinal cord injuries, might benefit from this type of nurse-assisted therapy involving horses.