Factors Influencing Motor Outcome of Hippotherapy in Children with Cerebral Palsy.

OBJECTIVE

This study was aimed to identify individual factors influencing the gross motor outcome of hippotherapy in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

METHODS

One hundred and forty-six children with CP (mean age: 5.78 ± 1.72 years, male: 56.2%) presenting variable function (gross motor function classification system [GMFCS], levels I-IV) participated in this study. Participants received 30 minutes of hippotherapy twice a week for 8 weeks. Clinical information including GMFCS level, age, sex, CP distribution, CP type, gross motor function measure-88 (GMFM-88), GMFM-66, and pediatric balance scale (PBS) score were collected retrospectively. We regarded the children with GMFM-66 score increased by 2.0 points as good responders to hippotherapy. Further we analyzed factors affecting good responders.

RESULTS

GMFCS level I and II compared with IV (odds ratio [OR] = 6.83) and III compared with IV (OR = 4.45) were significantly associated with a good response to hippotherapy. Higher baseline GMFM E (OR = 1.05) and lower baseline GMFM B (OR = 0.93) were also significantly associated with a good response to hippotherapy. Sex, age, CP type, and distribution were not factors influencing gross motor outcome of hippotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The children with CP, GMFCS level I-III, with relatively poor postural control in sitting might have a greater chance to improve their GMFM-66 scores through hippotherapy. This supports the hypothesis that hippotherapy is a context-focused therapy to improve postural control in sitting.