승마치료 시뮬레이터 적용이 허리통증 환자의 통증, 정적 균형 및 허리 기능에 미치는 영향

• Published in: 대한정형도수물리치료학회지 Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 109 - 116
• Main Authors: 박재명, 인태성
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한정형도수물리치료학회 31.08.2025
• Subjects: 물리치료학; Balance; Low Back Pain; Hippotherapy Simulator
• ISSN: 1226-3680; 2508-7282
• DOI: 10.23101/kaompt.2025.31.2.109

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of hippotherapy simulator application on balance, pain, and disability in adults in their twenties with low back pain METHODS: This study was conducted from March 18 to April 5, 2024, on 21 adults in their 20s with low back pain at G University who provided informed consent. Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG, n=10) or control group (CG, n=11). Pain, balance, and functional disability were measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS), a stabilometric force platform, and the quebec back pain disability scale (QBPDS). The EG performed hippotherapy-simulator exercise (warm-up mode, speed level 6) for 3 minutes followed by 1 minute of rest, repeated for 3 sets; the CG maintained a seated position on the powered-off simulator for the same duration. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 for Windows. Normality was tested with the Shapiro–Wilk test. Within-group changes were examined using paired t-tests, between-group differences using independent t-tests, and categorical variables using chi-square tests. Statistical significance was set at p <.05. RESULTS: In the VAS pain index, the CG showed a significant reduction in pain, whereas the EG did not exhibit a significant change. Static balance assessed with the gait checker revealed no significant between-group differences except in anterior–posterior balance. Finally, on the QBPDS, no significant changes were observed in either the EG or CG. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the use of hippotherapy improved the static balance of patients with low back pain, suggesting it may serve as a useful adjunct to conventional rehabilitation for enhancing postural control. Further research with larger samples and longer follow-up is warranted to confirm the durability of these effects and clarify impacts on pain and functional disability.