title: Effect of hippotherapy on gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether hippotherapy has a clinically significant effect on gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient therapy center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two children with CP, aged 4-10 years, presenting variable function (Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] levels I-IV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Hippotherapy (30 minutes twice weekly for 8 consecutive weeks).
  
  
  METHODS
  Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88, GMFM-66, and Pediatric Balance Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre- and post-treatment measures were completed by 91 children (45 in the intervention group and 46 in the control group). Differences in improvement on all three measures significantly differed between groups after the 8-week study period. Dimensions of GMFM-88 improved significantly after hippotherapy varied by GMFCS level: dimension E in level I, dimensions D and E in level II, dimensions C and D in level III, and dimensions B and C in level IV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hippotherapy positively affects gross motor function and balance in children with CP of various functional levels.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular and Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine , Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Sook-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hye-Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Yun-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D056147:Equine-Assisted Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome