Effect of hippotherapy on gait symmetry in children with cerebral palsy: A pilot study.

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the effect of hippotherapy on gait symmetry in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Twelve children with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels II-IV received weekly hippotherapy lesson for 1 year. Gait analyses were performed during a 5-m walking test, using a portable, tri-axial accelerometer-based motion recorder. The baseline symmetry index derived from the Lissajous index (LI) figure before hippotherapy was greater than the LI in age-matched normal subjects (P < 0.01). Hippotherapy was associated with a decreased LI (-10.4 ± 4.9%, P = 0.018) and an improved GMFCS score (-0.6 ± 0.7, P = 0.02). These data suggest that hippotherapy has a beneficial effect on symmetry of the trunk movement in children with CP.

• Authors: Tomoko Mutoh, Tatsushi Mutoh, Hirokazu Tsubone, Makoto Takada, Misato Doumura, Masayo Ihara, Hideo Shimomura, Yasuyuki Taki, Masahiro Ihara
• Journal: Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology (Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol) Vol. 46 Issue 5 Pg. 506-509 (05 2019) ISSN: 1440-1681 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 30811617 (Publication Type: Letter, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Topics

• Cerebral Palsy (physiopathology, therapy)
• Child
• Equine-Assisted Therapy
• Female
• Gait
• Humans
• Male
• Pilot Projects
• Treatment Outcome