Effects of hippotherapy simulation exercise vs. conventional home exercises on muscle strength and balance in people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the efficacy of hippotherapy simulation exercise on the improvement of muscle strength, balance, spasticity, and quality of life in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).

DESIGN:

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING:

Outpatient clinic at the rehabilitation clinic of University of Usak, Turkey PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with MS (n = 40) participated in this randomized clinical study.

INTERVENTIONS:

Patients in both groups received 36 treatment sessions, 3 times per week for 12 consecutive weeks. Subjects in the study group performed hippotherapy simulation exercise via a hippotherapy simulator device. The control group received conventional home exercises.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

The primary outcome measures included the Monitoring My Multiple Sclerosis (MMMS) Scale, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test; quadriceps muscle strength was measured with a dynamometer.

RESULTS:

At the level of physical activity, post-intervention MMMS measures showed significant differences in both cases. TUG was significantly lower, and muscle strength and BBS were significantly higher in both post-interventions. No outcome measure showed a significant difference between the groups at both post-intervention and follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of this study in the field of hippotherapy simulation exercise for people with MS indicate a positive effect on health conditions, balance, mobility skills, and muscle strength. Further studies are necessary to confirm these preliminary results.

• Authors: Ender Salbaş, Ali Yavuz Karahan
• Journal: Multiple sclerosis and related disorders (Mult Scler Relat Disord) Vol. 68 Pg. 104111 (Dec 2022) ISSN: 2211-0356 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 36031694 (Publication Type: Randomized Controlled Trial, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Humans
• Multiple Sclerosis (rehabilitation)
• Quality of Life
• Postural Balance (physiology)
• Muscle Strength (physiology)
• Exercise Therapy (methods)
• Exercise