title: Effects of Hippotherapy on Psychosocial Aspects in Children With Cerebral Palsy and Their Caregivers: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of hippotherapy on psychosocial and emotional parameters in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and their caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight children with CP were recruited (three males and five females; mean age, 7.3 years; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels 1-3). Hippotherapy sessions were conducted for 30 minutes once weekly for 10 consecutive weeks in an indoor riding arena. The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index were evaluated. All children were evaluated by the Children's Depression Inventory, Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, State Anxiety Inventory for Children, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, and the Korean-Satisfaction with Life Scale (K-SWLS). Their caregivers were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the K-SWLS. We assessed children and their caregivers with the same parameters immediately after hippotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements on the GMFM, dimension E in the GMFM, and the PBS were observed after hippotherapy compared with the baseline assessment (p<0.05). However, no improvements were detected in the psychosocial or emotional parameters in children with CP or their caregivers. None of the participants showed any adverse effects or accidents during the 10 weeks hippotherapy program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hippotherapy was safe and effectively improved gross motor and balance domains in children with CP. However, no improvements were observed in psychosocial or emotional parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wonkwang University School of Medicine and Hospital, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Chul Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wonkwang University School of Medicine and Hospital, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Cheol
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wonkwang University School of Medicine and Hospital, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Se Eung
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Yeol
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Yeouido, St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Bo
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Equestrian, Jeonju Kijeon College, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Equestrian, Jeonju Kijeon College, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Kyun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wonkwang University School of Medicine and Hospital, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo In
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Cerebral palsy; Hippotherapy; Psychosocial aspects