Impact of serial gait analyses on long-term outcome of hippotherapy in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

• Published in: Complementary therapies in clinical practice Vol. 30; pp. 19 - 23
• Main Authors: Mutoh, Tomoko, Mutoh, Tatsushi, Tsubone, Hirokazu, Takada, Makoto, Doumura, Misato, Ihara, Masayo, Shimomura, Hideo, Taki, Yasuyuki, Ihara, Masahiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2018; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Animal assisted therapy; Balance; Cerebral palsy; Cerebral Palsy - physiopathology; Cerebral Palsy - therapy; Child; Childrens health; Equine-Assisted Therapy; Female; Gait; Gait analysis; Hippotherapy; Humans; Long term; Male; Mobility; Motor ability; Nursing; Outcome; Postural Balance; Rehabilitation; Teenagers; Treatment Outcome; Walking; Walking - physiology; Walking speed; Cerebral palsy; Rehabilitation; Animal-assisted therapy; Hippotherapy; Outcome; Gait analysis
• ISSN: 1744-3881; 1873-6947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.11.003

The aim of this study was to obtain data of gait parameters on predicting long-term outcome of hippotherapy. In 20 participants (4–19 years; GMFCS levels I to III) with cerebral palsy (CP), gait and balance abilities were examined after 10-m walking test using a portable motion recorder. Hippotherapy was associated with increased Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-66 at 1 year from the baseline (P < 0.001). Hippotherapy increased stride length, walking speed, and mean acceleration and decreased horizontal/vertical displacement ratio over time (P < 0.05). Stride length and mean acceleration at 6 weeks predicted the elevation of GMFM-66 score. These data suggest that 1-year outcome of hippotherapy on motor and balance functions can be assessed from the early phase by serial monitoring of the gait parameters. •Impact of serial gait analyses on long-term efficacy of hippotherapy was determined in children and adolescents with CP.•Gait and balance functions were assessed serially using a portable motion recorder via a 10-m walking test.•Stride length and mean acceleration at 6 weeks were the predictors for 1-year GMFM-66 improvement.•The data enhance the therapeutic benefit of hippotherapy as an important rehabilitation method.