Effects of a hippotherapy intervention on muscle spasticity in children with cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of a 12 weeks hippotherapy intervention protocol on hip adductors spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Settings/location: The intervention was conducted in an Equestrian and Therapeutic Association. Patients were recruited from a Rehabilitation Unit of Cerebral Palsy. Subjects: A total of 44 children with spastic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] levels IV-V; 28 boys and 16 girls; aged 8 years 10 months, SD 3 months) were assigned to a treatment (n = 22; mean age 9 years 6 months, SD 3 months) or a control group (n = 22; mean age 8 years 3 months, SD 3 months). Interventions: The control group received conventional therapy, and the treatment group received hippotherapy in addition to their conventional treatment. The intervention consisted of a 12-weeks hippotherapy program (1 time/week, 45 min). Outcome measures: Both groups were assessed before and after the full program with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Results: There were significant differences in the MAS scores between the treatment and the control group in both adductors (left adductors: p = 0,040; right adductors: p = 0,047), after a 12-weeks hippotherapy intervention. Conclusions: A hippotherapy based treatment in addition to conventional therapy, in children with cerebral palsy, produces statistically significant changes in hip adductors spasticity after a 12-weeks intervention. Thus, it seems to produce benefits in the short-term. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.