Summary of the Systematic ReviewARTICLE CITATIONThe effect of a 5-week therapeutic horseback riding program on Gross Motor Function in a child with Cerebral PalsyMark Drnach, Patricia A O'Brien, Alison Kreger Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2010) ARTICLE DETAILSDescriptionThe purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of a short-term therapeutic horseback riding intervention on the gross motor function in a child with cerebral palsy. This study employed a repeated-measures design with a pretest, a post-test, and a post post-test conducted 5 weeks apart using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) as an outcome measure. The three sets of test scores from the GMFM were compared upon completion of the intervention. The subject participated in a 5-week therapeutic horseback riding program consisting of 1 hour of riding per week. Each riding session consisted of stretching, strengthening, and balance activities. The child's level of motor function was tested prior to the intervention, upon completion of the intervention, and 5 weeks postintervention. The GMFM, a criterion-referenced observational measure designed to measure change in the gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy, was chosen as the assessment tool. ProfessionTherapeutic Riding Instructor LocationUSA Intervention TerminologyTherapeutic Riding Study DesignCase Study/repeated measures Sample1 child Age/Population10 Years Assessment/ Outcome measure toolsGMFM Result CategoryGross Motor Dosage/Description of Intervention1 hour TR lessons for 5 weeks |