Effects of hippotherapy on motor function of children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review study
Panagiotis Plotas, Angelos Papadopoulos, Evangelia-Maria Apostolelli, Eleni Orphanidou Vlachou, Foteini Gazou, Ioanna Zogopoulou, Ioanna Katsaidoni, Ιωάννα Παναγιωτοπούλου, Sofia Paraskevi Paparouna, Nikolina Silavou, K. Fragkiadaki, Eirini Tsiamaki, Sotirios Fouzas, Xenophon Sinopidis, Nikolaos Trimmis
Abstract
Cerebral palsy includes a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders caused by brain damage, leading to impairment of movement, posture, and balance for a lifetime. There are many therapeutic interventions for cerebral palsy. One of them is hippotherapy, an alternative physical therapy. It is a type of equine-assisted activity and therapy where children with cerebral palsy and motor function skills interact with a horse. We aimed to study the effects of hippotherapy, as an alternative therapy, on the motor function of children with cerebral palsy. We performed a review of the latest literature on hippotherapy and cerebral palsy. The criteria we used were specific keywords, publication date, age of the subjects/studied population, and article type. The outcome of our research resulted in ten relevant studies. The findings demonstrate improvements in various aspects of motor function - more specifically in gross motor function skills, balance, coordination, gait parameters, and muscle strength. Two of ten studies used the Horse-Riding Simulator with significant improvements in postural control in sitting, motor function, and hip abduction range of motion. Hippotherapy can improve motor function skills of children between 2 and 14 years of age with cerebral palsy, affecting their well-being and overall quality of life. It can have a positive effect either as a standalone treatment or as a part of other traditional therapies. Extended research is needed to assess whether hippotherapy may present significant long-term changes in motor skills in children with cerebral palsy.