Student Student at Ross University School of Medicine Plantation, Florida, United States
Objectives: Hippotherapy is a treatment tool incorporating physical, occupational, and speech language therapy by utilizing the rhythmic movement of a horse to bring back neurological functions. It has been used to preserve and promote balance in patients with stroke, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury. It helps improve postural control by generating vestibular inputs due to the movement of the horse. The repetitive, rhythmic and the sway of the horse stimulates the patient’s postural reflex mechanism, resulting in balance and coordination training.
This paper is a review of the current research in adults with stroke utilizing hippotherapy as an effective system to bring back motor function.
Design: Over 15 articles were evaluated to assess the effectiveness of hippotherapy. Studies from the last decade on hippotherapy in adult stroke patients using either live horses or a simulator were included. Children and patients recovering from other injuries were excluded. In many of the studies, an experimental group that underwent horseback riding therapy was compared to a control group that performed regular conventional therapy over many weeks.
Results: Review has shown hippotherapy to be an effective tool that improves balance and strengthens pelvic, abdominal, and lumbar muscles.
Conclusions: Hippotherapy should be considered and is recommended if available for stroke patients. However, its use may be limited in some situations due to financial considerations, allergies, and fear of falling.
