Improvements in Muscle Symmetry In Children With

Cerebral Palsy After Equine-Assisted Therapy (Hippo

therapy)

By: Kemi Akomolafe

Authors: William Brenda, Nancy H McGibbon and Kathryn L. Grant

Publishing Journal: The journal Of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Background

 This study objective was to evaluate the effect of hippo therapy on muscle activity for
children with spastic cerebral palsy.
 Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of cerebral palsy. This results in stiff
muscles which can make movement difficult or even impossible.
 Muscle imbalance may lead to uneven bone growth, contractures, and spinal
deformities.
 Hippo therapy is a physical therapy treatment strategy in which the movement of a horse
may be used to improve posture.
Participants

 Participants in the study were 15 children ranging from 4 to 12 years of age diagnosed
with spastic cerebral palsy, who met the following inclusion criteria: (1) ability to sit
independently with feet on the ground and no back support; (2) ability to stand and walk
independently with or without an assistive device; (3) ability to cooperate with and follow
verbal directions; (4) sufficient hip abduction to sit astride a horse or barrel.
Methods

 They were separated into two groups half with the horses and half without the horses
 Each child is required to sit still for 10 minutes while the EMG recorded the muscle group.
 Two horses with similar stride lengths, one small and one medium size, were selected for
the study in order to accommodate both the smaller and larger children.
Measurements

 Remote surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscle activity of the
trunk and upper legs during sitting, standing, and walking tasks before and after each
intervention.
 They recorded before and after the study was conducted to measure the muscle activity
in microvolts.
Results

 After hippotherapy, significant improvement in symmetry of muscle activity was noted in

those muscle groups displaying the highest asymmetry prior to hippotherapy. No
significant change was noted after sitting astride a barrel
 7 children were randomly assigned to 8 minutes of hippo therapy and 8 children were
randomly assigned to 8 minutes on the barrel
 2 children were removed from the study due to their inability to stay in place throughout
the readings. These children were assigned to sitting astride the barrel.
 The children who participated In hippo therapy showed the most improvement
throughout the study they improved every week while the other set showed no significant
results.
Conclusion

 Eight minutes of hippotherapy, but not stationary sitting astride a barrel, resulted in
improved symmetry in muscle activity in children with spastic cerebral palsy. These results
suggest that the movement of the horse rather than passive stretching accounts for the
measured improvements.
 Hippo therapy provides physical, cognitive, emotional, and social stimulation.
 The gait of a horse provides a precise, rhythmic, and repetitive pattern of movement
similar to the mechanics of natural human gait.
 The group assigned barrel showed less asymmetry of muscle activity
Personal Critque

 What other animal therapy do you think could be used in place of horses for children with
cerebral palsy?
 Do you feel as though this study made a significant change with children with cerebral
palsy or do you feel as though they could have done more?
References

 http://proxy.lunet.edu:2054/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=c83700dd-4328-4032-
8ca6-0b304dba5fbe%40sessionmgr4009