Improvements in muscle symmetry in children with cerebral palsy after equine-assisted therapy (hippotherapy).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of hippotherapy (physical therapy utilizing the movement of a horse) on muscle activity in children with spastic cerebral palsy.


METHODS
Pretest/post-test control group.


METHODS
Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT), Tucson, AZ.


METHODS
Fifteen (15) children ranging from 4 to 12 years of age diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy.


METHODS
Children meeting inclusion criteria were randomized to either 8 minutes of hippotherapy or 8 minutes astride a stationary barrel.


METHODS
Remote surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscle activity of the trunk and upper legs during sitting, standing, and walking tasks before and after each intervention.


RESULTS
After hippotherapy, significant improvement in symmetry of muscle activity was noted in those muscle groups displaying the highest asymmetry prior to hippotherapy. No significant change was noted after sitting astride a barrel.


CONCLUSIONS
Eight minutes of hippotherapy, but not stationary sitting astride a barrel, resulted in improved symmetry in muscle activity in children with spastic cerebral palsy. These results suggest that the movement of the horse rather than passive stretching accounts for the measured improvements.
Benda
William
W
Institute for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. billbenda@earthlink.net
McGibbon
Nancy H
NH
Grant
Kathryn L
KL
D000818:Animals; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome