A hippotherapy simulator is effective to shift weight bearing toward the affected side during gait in patients with stroke.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether a hippotherapy simulator has influence on symmetric body weight bearing during gait in patients with stroke.


METHODS
Stroke patients were divided into a control group (n = 10) that received conventional rehabilitation for 60 min/day, 5 times/week for 4 weeks and an experimental group (n = 10) that used a hippotherapy simulator for 15 min/day, 5 times/week for 4 weeks after conventional rehabilitation for 45 min/day. Temporospatial gait assessed using OptoGait and trunk muscles (abdominis and erector spinae on affected side) activity evaluated using surface electromyography during sit-to-stand and gait. Prior to starting the experiment, pre-testing was performed. At the end of the 4-week intervention, we performed post-testing.


RESULTS
Activation of the erector spinae in the experimental group was significantly increased compared to that in the control group (p < 0.01), whereas activation of the rectus abdominis decreased during sit-to-stand. Of the gait parameters, load response, single support, total double support, and pre-swing showed significant changes in the experimental group with a hippotherapy simulator compared to control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, activation of the erector spinae and rectus abdominis in gait correlate with changes of gait parameters including load response, single support, total double support, and pre-swing in experimental group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that use of a hippotherapy simulator to patients with stroke can improve asymmetric weight bearing by influencing trunk muscles.
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Natural Science, Kyungnam University, Changwon, South Korea.
Yun-Hee
YH
Sung
Chang-Ju
CJ
Kim
Byong-Kyu
BK
Yu
Kyeong-Mi
KM
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D004576:Electromyography; D056147:Equine-Assisted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016474:Weight-Bearing
Stroke; gait performance; hippotherapy simulator; trunk muscle