Summary of the Systematic Review

Study of the therapeutic effects of an advanced hippotherapy simulator in children with cerebral palsy: a randomised controlled trial

Herrero, Asensio, García, Marco, Oliván, Ibarz, Gómez-Trullén, E., and Casas

BMC Musculoskeletal Disord. (2010) 

Description

Although hippotherapy treatment has been demonstrated to have therapeutic effects on children with cerebral palsy, the samples used in research studies have been very small. In the case of hippotherapy simulators, there are no studies that either recommend or advise against their use in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy. The aim of this randomised clinical study is to analyse the therapeutic effects or the contraindications of the use of a commercial hippotherapy simulator on several important factors relating to children with cerebral palsy such as their motor development, balance control in the sitting posture, hip abduction range of motion and electromyographic activity of adductor musculature.

Profession 

Other 

Location 

Spain 

Intervention Terminology

Simulator HPOT

Study Design 

Prospective RCT

Sample

37 children 

Age/Population

4-18 Years 

Assessment/ Outcome measure tools

Sitting assessment scale, GMFM, hip ABD ROM, hip ADD surface EMG

Result Category 

Foundational

Dosage/Description of Intervention

15 min, 1z per week x 10 weeks