Evidence reviewed as of before 01-01-2021 Author(s): Ogourtsova, T. (PhD OT); Steven, E. (MSc App OT); Iliopoulos, G. (MSc App OT); & Majnemer, A. (PhD, OT, FCAHS)

Introduction

The term hippotherapy refers to the use of equine movement for therapeutic purposes to improve sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems. Occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech language pathologists can all use hippotherapy as a therapy tool to achieve goals in these domains.

Accessed on May 18, 2022 from https://shininghopefarms.org/2018/03/what-is-hippotherapy/

Equine movement provides rhythmic, consistent and predictable neuromotor inputs. Each session could provide up to 2500 neuromotor inputs that can communicate messages to the brain (e.g. normal gait mechanics). A therapist can modify different conditions during a session, including movement, positioning, posture, tempo and speed to work on different goals (e.g. postural control, balance etc.) and increase/decrease the level of difficulty for the client.

It is believed that hippotherapy can stimulate all sensory systems simultaneously (including vestibular and proprioceptive systems). Multiple subsystems are also stimulated at the same time (sensory, muscular, skeletal and limbic) and, according to dynamic systems theory, this facilitates the ability of the brain to self-organize.

Research on the use of hippotherapy as a therapy tool has demonstrated that it is effective with a broad range of clients with neuromotor, cognitive and/or communication deficits (e.g. cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, multiple sclerosis and stroke).

Parent & Family Information

Clinician Information

Children with spastic/dyskinetic/ataxic CP

GMFCS levels I-IV

References

  • Kwon, J. Y., Chang, H. J., Yi, S. H., Lee, J. Y., Shin, H. Y., & Kim, Y. H. (2015). Effect of hippotherapy on gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)21(1), 15–21. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2014.0021

Definitions

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