Hippotherapy

Dating back to ancient Greece and implemented to address mental, physical, and emotional distress after World War II, horseback riding therapies have captured the attention of patients and caregivers alike for generations. Riding is presently used as a therapy in a variety of disabilities including multiple sclerosis, stroke, Down syndrome, spinal cord injury, attention deficits, autism and CP. Within CP, issues such as balance, breathing, muscle tone, posture and gait have been addressed.

Historically, two types of horseback riding interventions have been discussed in the literature. Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) is typically provided by a trained riding instructor who teaches disabled riders to control the horse using basic riding skills. In contrast, hippotherapy is commonly provided by a physical therapist or an occupational therapist, with the goal of using equine movements to improve balance, posture, and gross and fine motor skills. The following review focuses on hippotherapy.

To view the conclusions of the systematic review on hippotherapy  please follow the Quick Review link. For detailed summaries of the articles reviewed and their respective evidence rankings please follow the In-Depth Review link. Additional information on the definitions and details of hippotherapy applied to people with cerebral palsy  can be found by following the Family & Friends link.