Stergiou Alexandra, Tzoufi Meropi, Ntzani Evangelia, Varvarousis Dimitrios, Beris Alexandros, Ploumis Avraam
From the School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Greece.
Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2017 Oct;96(10):717-725. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000726.
Equine-assisted therapies, such as therapeutic riding and hippotherapy, are believed to have positive physical and emotional effects in individuals with neuromotor, developmental, and physical disabilities. The purpose of this review was to determine whether therapeutic riding and hippotherapy improve balance, motor function, gait, muscle symmetry, pelvic movement, psychosocial parameters, and the patients' overall quality of life.
In this study, a literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, CINAHL, MBASE, SportDiscus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, PEDro, DARE, Google Scholar, and Dissertation Abstracts. Only studies with a control/comparison group or self-controlled studies performing preintervention and postintervention assessment were included. Excluded were (1) studies not providing data on baseline score or end-point outcome, (2) single-subject studies, (3) studies providing only qualitative data, and (4) studies that used a mechanical horse. Sixteen trials were included. The methodologic quality of each study was evaluated using Downs and Black quality assessment tool.
Most of the studies showed a trend toward a beneficial effect of therapeutic riding and hippotherapy on balance and gross motor function. The meta-analysis showed improvement in both the Berg Balance Scale and the Gross Motor Function Measure in therapeutic riding and hippotherapy programs.
Programs such as therapeutic riding and hippotherapy are a viable intervention option for patients with balance, gait, and psychomotor disorders.
马术辅助疗法，如治疗性骑马和马术疗法，被认为对患有神经运动、发育和身体残疾的个体具有积极的身体和情感影响。本综述的目的是确定治疗性骑马和马术疗法是否能改善平衡、运动功能、步态、肌肉对称性、骨盆运动、心理社会参数以及患者的整体生活质量。
在本研究中，对MEDLINE、CINAHL、MBASE、SportDiscus、Cochrane系统评价数据库、Cochrane对照试验注册库、PEDro、DARE、谷歌学术和论文摘要进行了文献检索。仅纳入有对照组/比较组或进行干预前和干预后评估的自身对照研究。排除的研究包括：（1）未提供基线评分或终点结果数据的研究；（2）单病例研究；（3）仅提供定性数据的研究；（4）使用机械马的研究。共纳入16项试验。使用唐斯和布莱克质量评估工具对每项研究的方法学质量进行评估。
大多数研究表明，治疗性骑马和马术疗法对平衡和粗大运动功能有有益影响的趋势。荟萃分析显示，在治疗性骑马和马术疗法项目中，伯格平衡量表和粗大运动功能测量均有改善。
治疗性骑马和马术疗法等项目是平衡、步态和精神运动障碍患者可行的干预选择。
