Edyta Mikołajczyk
Beata Ligęza
Agnieszka Jankowicz-Szymańska
The effect of hippotherapy on postural balance
Edyta Mikołajczyk
Beata Ligęza
Agnieszka Jankowicz-Szymańska
Department of Physiotherapy, University of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland
The Foundation for People with Disabilities, Stróże, Poland
Institute of Health Sciences, State Higher Vocational School, Tarnow, Poland
Received: 4 December 2016 / Accepted: 14 March 2017 / Published: 30 March 2017
Abstract
Introduction. Impaired motor control in children with infantile cerebral palsy (ICP) frequently leads to mobility limitations.
Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of hippotherapy on maintaining postural balance and gait in children with ICP.
Material and methods. A total of thirty children with spastic diplegia, aged 8-13 years, participated in the study. All children took part in a two-week hippotherapy program. The Tinetti and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests were used to investigate the quality of their postural balance and gait. All tests were performed before and after therapeutic horseback riding.
Results. After the two weeks of therapy, a statistically significant (p<0.05) improvement in balance maintenance and gait performance was observed in all children.
Conclusion. 1. Hippotherapy sessions significantly improved the level of postural balance in children with ICP. 2. Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) positively affected the quality of gait and significantly decreased the risk of accidental falls in children who participated in the rehabilitation program.
Cite
Mikołajczyk E, Ligęza B, Jankowicz-Szymańska A. The effect of hippotherapy on postural balance. Eur J Clin Exp Med. 2017;15(1):45–49. doi: 10.15584/ejcem.2017.1.7
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