Effects of a hippotherapy intervention on muscle spasticity in children with cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of a 12 weeks hippotherapy intervention protocol on hip adductors spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTINGS/LOCATION: The intervention was conducted in an Equestrian and Therapeutic Association. Patients were recruited from a Rehabilitation Unit of Cerebral Palsy.

SUBJECTS

A total of 44 children with spastic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] levels IV-V; 28 boys and 16 girls; aged 8 years 10 months, SD 3 months) were assigned to a treatment (n = 22; mean age 9 years 6 months, SD 3 months) or a control group (n = 22; mean age 8 years 3 months, SD 3 months).

INTERVENTIONS

The control group received conventional therapy, and the treatment group received hippotherapy in addition to their conventional treatment. The intervention consisted of a 12-weeks hippotherapy program (1 time/week, 45 min).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Both groups were assessed before and after the full program with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS).

RESULTS

There were significant differences in the MAS scores between the treatment and the control group in both adductors (left adductors: p = 0,040; right adductors: p = 0,047), after a 12-weeks hippotherapy intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

A hippotherapy based treatment in addition to conventional therapy, in children with cerebral palsy, produces statistically significant changes in hip adductors spasticity after a 12-weeks intervention. Thus, it seems to produce benefits in the short-term.