title: The effect of hippotherapy on functional outcomes for children with disabilities: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of hippotherapy on functional outcomes using the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) for children with physical disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 4 children aged 5 to 9 years with physical impairments and/or documented motor delays. Individual measurable objectives were developed using the GAS for each child. Data were collected on each child every other week throughout the baseline and intervention phase over 1 year using a multiple single case experimental A-B design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three of the 4 children had a significant improvement in functional outcomes based on a standardized T-score formula from the GAS. Two of the 4 children had statistically significant results on the nonparametric binomial test following 6 months of intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study represents an initial attempt to use the GAS in a single-case design with a variety of pediatric diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. deirdra_murphy@uml.edu
authors.forename: Deirdra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kahn-D'Angelo
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gleason
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006040:Goals; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports; D016896:Treatment Outcome