title: Influence of neurophysiological hippotherapy on the transference of the centre of gravity among children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to present the influence of neurophysiological hippotherapy on the transference of the centre of gravity (COG) among children with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 19 children aged 4-13 years suffering from CP who demonstrated an asymmetric (A/P) model of compensation. Body balance was studied with the Cosmogamma Balance Platform. An examination on this platform was performed before and after a session of neurophysiological hippotherapy. In order to compare the correlations and differences between the examinations, the results were analysed using Student's T-test for dependent samples at p ≤ 0.05 as the level of statistical significance and descriptive statistics were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean value of the body's centre of gravity in the frontal plane (COG X) was 18.33 (mm) during the first examination, changing by 21.84 (mm) after neurophysiological hippotherapy towards deloading of the antigravity lower limb (p ≤ 0.0001). The other stabilographic parameters increased; however, only the change in average speed of antero - posterior COG oscillation was statistically significant (p = 0.0354).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. One session of neurophysiological hippotherapy induced statistically significant changes in the position of the centre of gravity in the body in the frontal plane and the average speed of COG oscillation in the sagittal plane among CP children demonstrating an asymmetric model of compensation (A/P).
authors.affiliation: University of Physical Education in Wrocław, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Department, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maćków
authors.affiliation: University of Physical Education in Wrocław, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Department, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Małachowska-Sobieska
authors.affiliation: University of Physical Education in Wrocław, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Department, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demczuk-Włodarczyk
authors.affiliation: University of Physical Education in Wrocław, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Department, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sidorowska
authors.affiliation: Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Anthropology, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szklarska
authors.affiliation: Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Anthropology, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lipowicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D056147:Equine-Assisted Therapy; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*