title: Changes in Cardiorespiratory Responses and Kinematics With Hippotherapy in Youth With and Without Cerebral Palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to characterize pelvic displacement and cardiorespiratory responses to simulated horseback riding and walking in youth with cerebral palsy and to compare responses to youth without cerebral palsy before and after 8 weeks of hippotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight youth with cerebral palsy (Mage= 10 ± 4 years; Mheight= 137 ± 24 cm; Mweight= 32 ± 16 kg) and 8 youth without cerebral palsy (Mage= 11 ± 2 years; Mheight= 149 ± 14 cm; Mweight= 48 ± 15 kg) underwent a hippotherapy intervention. Participants completed simulated horseback riding at an intensity approximating a fast walk (0.65 Hz) and walked on a treadmill (1 mph, 0% grade) before and after hippotherapy. Pelvic displacement along the anterior-posterior, vertical, and medial-lateral axes, heart rate, oxygen consumption, ventilation, and blood pressure were measured at rest and during steady-state exercise in both exercise modes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kinematics and cardiorespiratory responses were similar between the 2 groups during simulated horseback riding (p > .05 for all) before the intervention. Significantly greater cardiorespiratory responses were observed in the youth with cerebral palsy compared with the group without cerebral palsy while walking before and after the intervention (p <  .05, effect sizes 26% to 237% greater). Eight weeks of hippotherapy did not alter responses, but anecdotal improvements in gait, balance, posture, and range of motion were observed in those with cerebral palsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results contribute to our understanding regarding the efficacy of hippotherapy as an intervention to improve functional abilities in those with cerebral palsy.
authors.affiliation: a Texas Woman's University.
authors.forename: Brandon Rhett
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Rigby
authors.affiliation: b Baylor University.
authors.forename: Adam Robert
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gloeckner
authors.affiliation: c Victory Therapy Center.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sessums
authors.affiliation: b Baylor University.
authors.forename: Beth Anne
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lanning
authors.affiliation: b Baylor University.
authors.forename: Peter Walter
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Grandjean
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D056147:Equine-Assisted Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010388:Pelvis / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Children; horseback riding; special populations; walking