Study Shows Therapeutic Horseback Riding (Hippotherapy) Improves Balance and More in People with MS
August 14, 2017
SUMMARY
DETAILS
Background: Hippotherapy literally means “treatment with the help of the horse” from the Greek word “hippos,” meaning horse. This type of treatment uses a horse’s movements to achieve therapeutic goals. Physical therapists use hippotherapy to work on an individual’s balance and postural control; occupational therapists use it to work on fine motor control, attention and sensory integration; and speech-language therapists use the sessions to stimulate communication and cognitive skills.
The Study: In this study, 70 participants with MS and lower limb spasticity from five centers in Germany were randomly assigned to receive standard care plus one ½-hour session of hippotherapy per week, or just standard care, for 12 weeks. The primary outcome being measured was the effect on balance, and secondary outcomes included measures of fatigue, quality of life, pain and spasticity.
The results show that compared to the control group just receiving standard care, those who received hippotherapy plus standard care improved significantly in measures of balance, fatigue, spasticity and quality of life. Both groups experienced reductions in pain.
In terms of safety, one person in the hippotherapy group fell off the therapy horse but was able to continue the study. Two participants in the hippotherapy group experienced an MS relapse accompanied by painful muscle contractions.
The team (Vanessa Vermöhlen, University of Cologne, Germany, and colleagues) report their findings in the
Multiple Sclerosis Journal (
Published online August 3, 2017, available via Open Access).
Read more: Whether you enroll in an official therapeutic program or are just looking for venues in your community for access to horseback riding, the
American Hippotherapy Association and the
Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship can provide information and resources.
- Read a Momentum article about “Horse Power”
- Read more about rehabilitation approaches for treating MS