Modulation of back geometry in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy via hippotherapy training

Background and purposeControlled hippotherapy environment provides a foundation for improved neurologic function and sensory processing. This foundation can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities, making the horse a valuable therapeutic tool for rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a once weekly, twelve-week hippotherapy program on back geometry in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.SubjectsThirty spastic diplegic children from both sexes, ranging in age from six to eight years represented the sample of this study. The degree of spasticity ranged from 1 to 1+ according to the modified Ashworth scale. They were divided randomly into two groups of equal number A (control) and B (Study).ProceduresEvaluation of back geometry parameters was conducted for each child of the two groups before and after three months of treatment via using Formetric instrument system. Group A received a designed exercise program, while group B received hippotherapy training in addition to the same exercise program given to group A.ResultsNo significant difference was noticed when comparing the pre-treatment results of the two groups, while significant improvement was observed in all the measuring variables of the two groups when comparing their pre and post-treatment mean values. Significant difference was also observed when comparing the post-treatment results of the two groups in favor of group B.Discussion and conclusionHippotherapy utilizes the movement of the horse to provide sensory feedback and may be used as a therapeutic intervention for improving back geometry in children with spastic diplegia.