Why children with special needs feel better with hippotherapy sessions: a conceptual review.
Abstract: Hippotherapy literally means "therapy with the help of a horse" and is derived from the Greek word hippos, meaning "horse." Hippocrates was the first to describe the benefits of hippotherapy for rehabilitation purposes. Although this therapy has many years of history, few scholars have defined the theoretical bases of hippotherapy and less about how psychologic, physical, social, and educational benefits can be achieved through hippotherapy in children with special needs. Objective: This article is designed from a chronological perspective to provide mental health professionals, educators, and others with current information on how horses can be used as a main tool in an effective and holistic therapy for children with special needs. This is supported by current literature review through a conceptual framework of hippotherapy explained by dynamic system theory along with the theory of neuronal group selection and sensory integration theory. Conclusions: Hippotherapy, by affecting multiple systems such as the sensory, muscular, skeletal, limbic, vestibular, and ocular systems simultaneously, leads to psychologic, social, and educational benefits that will be evidenced in behavioral patterns used in other environments.
Publication Date: 2011-03-08 PubMed ID: 21385087DOI: 10.1089/acm.2009.0229Google Scholar: Lookup
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The research article discusses the effects and benefits of hippotherapy as a holistic therapy for children with special needs. It provides a conceptual perspective on how a horse can be used as a major therapeutic tool.
Understanding Hippotherapy
- Hippotherapy, a term derived from the Greek ‘hippos’ meaning horse, is the use of horses as a therapeutic method. The theory goes back to Hippocrates, who outlined the rehabilitation benefits of this method.
- In spite of the long history of this form of therapy, few research studies have illuminated the theoretical foundations of hippotherapy, especially in connection to the potential physical, psychological, social, and educational benefits for children with special needs.
- Within the scope of this review, the researchers intended to provide comprehensive information on hippotherapy for mental health professionals, educators, and other interested parties.
Theoretical Foundations
- The researchers examine the theoretical bases of hippotherapy through dynamic system theory, the theory of neuronal group selection, and sensory integration theory.
- Dynamic system theory is an approach that seeks to understand complex systems through studying their dynamics. This theory frames the inherent complexity of both horse and child as interrelated dynamic systems interacting during hippotherapy sessions.
- The theory of neuronal group selection posits that a child’s brain forms neural networks based on their experiences, suggesting that the sensory-motor stimuli of hippotherapy could cultivate advantageous brain development.
- Sensory integration theory focuses on how people process sensory information from their environment. Hippotherapy consistently engages multiple senses, which may assist children with special needs in improving their sensory integration.
Conclusions and Impacts of Hippotherapy
- The therapy, by simultaneously impacting multiple systems – including the sensory, muscular, skeletal, limbic, vestibular, and ocular – contributes to psychological, social, and educational benefits.
- These benefits could potentially manifest in behavioral patterns that children use in other environments, reinforcing hippotherapy’s value as a holistic therapeutic approach.
Cite This Article
APA
Granados AC, Agís IF.
(2011).
Why children with special needs feel better with hippotherapy sessions: a conceptual review.
J Altern Complement Med, 17(3), 191-197.
https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0229 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Neuropsychological Evaluation and Rehabilitation, University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain. anabel.granados@student.anglia.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Child
- Child Development
- Disabled Persons
- Equine-Assisted Therapy
- Humans
- Physical Fitness
- Systems Theory
Citations
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