title: Effects of hippotherapy on body functions, activities and participation in children with cerebral palsy based on ICF-CY assessments.
abstract: To evaluate the effects of hippotherapy on body functions, activities, and participation in children with CP of various functional levels by using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth (ICF-CY) checklist.
  
  
  
  Fourteen children with cerebral palsy (CP) (3-8 years of age) were recruited for a 36-week study composed of baseline, intervention, and withdrawal phases (12 weeks for each phase, ABA design). Hippotherapy was implemented for 30 min once weekly for 12 consecutive weeks during the intervention phase. Body Functions (b) and Activities and Participation (d) components of the ICF-CY checklist were used as outcome measures at the initial interview and at the end of each phase.
  
  
  
  Over the 12 weeks of hippotherapy, significant improvements in ICF-CY qualifiers were found in neuromusculoskeletal and movement-related functions (b7), mobility (d4) and major life areas (d8) and, in particular, mobility of joint functions (b710), muscle tone functions (b735), involuntary movement reaction functions (b755), involuntary movement functions (b765), and play (d811) (all p < 0.05) when compared with baseline.
  
  
  
  This study demonstrated the beneficial effects of hippotherapy on body functions, activities, and participation in children with CP. Implications for Rehabilitation ICF-CY provides a comprehensive overview of functioning and disability and constitutes a universal language for identifying the benefits of hippotherapy in areas of functioning and disability in children with CP. In children with CP, hippotherapy encourages a more complementary approach that extends beyond their impairments and limitations in body functions, activities, and participation. The effect of hippotherapy was distinct from GMFCS levels and the majority of improvements were present in children with GMFCS levels I-III.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University , Taichung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yueh-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: b Kao-an Rehabilitation and Pain Clinic , Taichung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Chia
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University , Taichung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Heng
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University , Taichung , Taiwan.|c Therapeutic Riding Centre of Taiwan , Taoyuan County , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Ya
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: c Therapeutic Riding Centre of Taiwan , Taoyuan County , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tze-Hsuan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: d Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology and Research Center on International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and Assistive Technology , National Yang-Ming University , Taipei , Taiwan.|e Resource Portal of Assistive Technology , Ministry of Health and Welfare , Taipei , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hong-Ji
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D056147:Equine-Assisted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D064702:International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; D008297:Male; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: Cerebral palsy; ICF-CY; activities; body functions; hippotherapy; participation