Highlights
- •Horse's movements can be manipulated in hippotherapy sessions.
- •Manipulations enhance demand for postural control in children with cerebral palsy.
- •Increases in horse's walk speed changes center of pressure parameters.
- •Different types of walking surfaces do not change all center of pressure parameters.
Abstract
Background
Hippotherapy is described as a rehabilitation method for postural control in children
with cerebral palsy. Horse's movements can be manipulated during hippotherapy's sessions
with horse walking on different surfaces and at different speeds. The purpose of this
study was to assess if dynamic sitting postural control in children with cerebral
palsy in hippotherapy is modified when surfaces (sand or asphalt) and horse's walking
speed (slow or faster) are changed.
Methods
Sixteen children participated in this crossover study. Eight bilateral spastic cerebral
palsy children, age range (6–12 years), with Gross Motor Function Classification System
levels III to IV, practicing hippotherapy and eight children with typical development
(reference group), matched for age and sex. All children were evaluated during riding
a horse on sand and asphalt surfaces and at slow (self-selected) and faster (30%)
horse's walking speed. Center of pressure parameters were determined by a portable
pressure measurement system positioned on the saddle.
Findings
Mediolateral displacement amplitude of the center of pressure was larger when the
horse was on sand. Mediolateral and anteroposterior displacements amplitude and velocities
of the center of pressure increased at horse's faster walking speed.
Interpretation
Our study test empirical procedures used in clinical practice and with a population
widely reached by hippotherapy. In order to increase the demand for sitting postural
control in children with cerebral palsy during horse riding, faster horse speed or
riding on sand should be used.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: July 25, 2019
Accepted:
July 24,
2019
Received:
December 21,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
