Summary of the Systematic Review

Hippotherapy in Adult Patients with Chronic Brain Disorders: A Pilot Study

Sunwoo et al

Annals of Rehab Medicine (2012) 

Description

To investigate the effects of hippotherapy for adult patients with brain disorders.

Eight chronic brain disorder patients (7 males, mean age 42.4±16.6 years) were recruited. The mean duration from injury was 7.9±7.7 years. The diagnoses were stroke (n=5), traumatic brain disorder (n=2), and cerebral palsy (n=1). Hippotherapy sessions were conducted twice a week for eight consecutive weeks in an indoor riding arena. Each hippotherapy session lasted 30 minutes. All participants were evaluated by the Berg balance scale, Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment, 10 Meter Walking Test, Functional Ambulatory Category, Korean Beck Depression Inventory, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. We performed baseline assessments twice just before starting hippotherapy. We also assessed the participants immediately after hippotherapy and at eight weeks after hippotherapy.

Profession 

Physical Therapy 

Location 

Korea

Intervention Terminology

HPOT

Study Design 

Repeated-measures design study

Sample

8 Adults 

Age/Population

25-59 Years

Assessment/ Outcome measure tools

Berg balance scale, Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment, 10 Meter Walking Test, Functional Ambulatory Category, Korean Beck Depression Inventory, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

Result Category 

Gait and Balance

Dosage/Description of Intervention

2/week x 8 weeks (30 minutes)