Hippotherapy

 

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Definition 

Hippotherapy literally means" treatment with help of the horse"

It's a treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement in a therapeutic way for patients with movement dysfunction.

Practitioners

A specially trained PTs and PTA, OTs and OTA, SLPs and SLPA 

Differentiation 

Hippotherapy	therapeutic riding
Using the movement of the horse as a treatment tool	Adapted recreational horseback riding lessons
Completed by a professional therapist in conjunction with professional horse handler and a specially screened and trained therapy horse	completed by a professional horseback riding instructor in conjunction with volunteers
There is direct hands on participation by the therapist at all time	the individual is often taught riding lessons in a group format
The horse's movement is essential to assist in meeting therapy goals	there is occasional hands on assistance by the riding instructor or volunteers
Is a one on one treatment and generally occurs year-round until the patient meets discharge criteria	here, the emphasis is on proper riding position and rein skills, not functional therapeutic goals

How does it work?

Horse's pelvis has a multidimensional movement  (variable, rhythmic and repetitive) Wich is similar to the pelvis of human beings. Also, sitting astride a horse would involve about every muscle group in the body. however, about the environment of hippotherapy, it could activate all kinds of sensory integration such as tactile, vestibular, visua,l olfactory and propreceptive stimulation.

Also, another study has approved that each minute astride a horse stimulate a child's brain with up to 1000 nerve impulses. And it has been clinically proven that just being in the vicinity of horses causes changes in the brainwaves patterns.

So,without even realizing it, this environment presents patients with a range of stimuli for the brain to process.

Advantages 

it causes; improvement in: 1.muscle tone and strength 2.Gross motor skills 3.ROM 4.coordination 5.endurance

Advances in: 1.Balance 2.head and trunk control 3.Body awareness 4.Posture 5.Mobility

positive effects on: 1.Eye-hand coordination 2.limbic system function related to arousal, motivation and attention 3.sensorimotor function 4.Oral motor, voice quality and vocal communication

Case Studies

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Recent Related Research (from <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/">Pubmed</a>)

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References

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