Yonsei Med J.  2014 Nov;55(6):1736-1742. 10.3349/ymj.2014.55.6.1736.

Effects of Hippotherapy on Gross Motor Function and Functional Performance of Children with Cerebral Palsy

• Park ES
• Rha DW
• Shin JS
• Kim S
• Jung S

• KMID: 2070225
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2014.55.6.1736

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of hippotherapy on gross motor function and functional performance in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We recruited 34 children (M:F=15:19, age: 3-12 years) with spastic CP who underwent hippotherapy for 45 minutes twice a week for 8 weeks. Twenty-one children with spastic CP were recruited for control group. The distribution of gross motor function classification system level and mean age were not significantly different between the two groups. Outcome measures, including the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-66, GMFM-88 and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory: Functional Skills Scale (PEDI-FSS), were assessed before therapy and after the 8-weeks intervention as outcome measures.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences between intervention and control groups in mean baseline total scores of GMFM-66, GMFM-88 or PEDI-FSS. After the 8-weeks intervention, mean GMFM-66 and GMFM-88 scores were significantly improved in both groups. However, the hippotherapy group had significantly greater improvement in dimension E and GMFM-66 total score than the control group. The total PEDI-FSS score and the sub-scores of its 3 domains were significantly improved in the hippotherapy group, but not in the control group.
CONCLUSION
The results of our study demonstrate the beneficial effects of hippotherapy on gross motor function and functional performance in children with CP compared to control group. The significant improvement in PEDI-FSS scores suggests that hippotherapy may be useful to maximize the functional performance of children with CP.

Keyword

Cerebral palsy; spastic; hippotherapy; function; physical activity; disability evaluation

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Cerebral Palsy/physiopathology/*rehabilitation/*therapy
Child
Child, Preschool
Disability Evaluation
*Equine-Assisted Therapy
Female
Humans
Male
*Motor Skills
Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care)
*Physical Therapy Modalities
Recovery of Function

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