title: Therapeutic effects of a horse riding simulator in children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of horse ridding simulator on the sitting postural control of children with spastic diplegia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty children were randomly divided in a group using the simulator (RS) and a group performing conventional physical therapy (CT). FScan/Fmat equipment was used to register maximal displacement in antero-posterior (AP) and medio-lateral (ML) directions with children in sitting position. At the pre and post intervention stage both groups were classified according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and, after intervention, by the AUQEI questionnaire (Autoquestionnaire Qualité de vie Enfant Image).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison between groups disclosed statistically significant pos-intervention improvement both in the AP (p<0.0001) as in the ML (p<0.0069) direction in the RS group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The horse ridding simulator produced significant improvement in the postural control of children in sitting position, additionally showing a higher motor functionality and a better acceptance of the therapeutic intervention.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil. mbeatrizborges@gmail.com
authors: Maria Beatriz
authors: MB
authors: Silva e Borges
authors: Maria José da Silva
authors: MJ
authors: Werneck
authors: Maria de Lourdes
authors: Mde L
authors: da Silva
authors: Lenora
authors: L
authors: Gandolfi
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Pratesi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D056147:Equine-Assisted Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome