Hippotherapy to Improve the Balance of Children With Movement Disorders

Cerebral Palsy Clinical Trial

— HPOT  

Official title:

Hippotherapy to Improve Balance Deficits in a Cohort of Children With Movement Disorders: A Pilot Study

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01313325
• Other study ID #: 09/14/2006
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: March 9, 2011
• Last updated: March 10, 2011
• Start date: September 2006
• Est. completion date: December 2007

Study information

• Verified date: March 2011
• Source: Central Michigan University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Institutional Review Board
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if adding hippotherapy treatment will improve balance for children ages 5-17 who have disabilities such as cerebral palsy and down syndrome. We also want to find out if by improving their balance the children increase their participation in age appropriate activities.

Description:

The primary purpose of this study is to determine the effects of hippotherapy on the balance of children with developmental disorders that cause mild to moderate balance problems. The secondary purpose is to determine if the use of hippotherapy also improves perceived functional abilities and thus quality of life as measured by the pediatric balance scale and Activities Scale for Kids (respectively)

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 16
• Est. completion date: December 2007
• Est. primary completion date: December 2007
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 5 Years to 17 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• between the ages of 5 and 17

• have a neuromuscular diagnosis or confirmed difficulties with balance

• be able to stand 4 seconds without an assistive device

• be able to follow testing instructions

• must be under 250 pounds

• be able to attend a minimum 10/12 sessions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• any compounding orthopedic or medical condition not related to the primary developmental diagnosis.

• previous hippotherapy intervention or therapeutic riding experience

• allergies or aversion to horses.

• refusal of parents to sign the therapeutic riding center's liability release form

• any new treatments (includes therapies, drugs, or other complementary treatments) within one month of the start of the study or plans for new treatments during the intervention period

• lack of a physician referral for physical therapy

Study Design

Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism
• Cerebral Palsy
• Developmental Coordination Disorder
• Down Syndrome
• Motor Skills Disorders
• Movement Disorders
• Neuromuscular Diseases

Intervention

Other:
• Hippotherapy
Children will receive treatment by a licensed physical therapist using hippotherapy as the treatment strategy. This includes sitting on a horse who's movement is controlled by a horse leader, with the PT directing the movements required of the horse, as well as supplying supplemental cues to the participant. Alternative positions (such as sitting backward and sideways) may also be used during the treatment session.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	CHUM Therapeutic Riding Center	Dansville	Michigan

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Central Michigan University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (5)

Benda W, McGibbon NH, Grant KL. Improvements in muscle symmetry in children with cerebral palsy after equine-assisted therapy (hippotherapy). J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Dec;9(6):817-25. — View Citation

Casady RL, Nichols-Larsen DS. The effect of hippotherapy on ten children with cerebral palsy. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2004 Fall;16(3):165-72. — View Citation

McGibbon NH, Benda W, Duncan BR, Silkwood-Sherer D. Immediate and long-term effects of hippotherapy on symmetry of adductor muscle activity and functional ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 Jun;90(6):966-74. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2009.01.011. — View Citation

Silkwood-Sherer D, Warmbier H. Effects of hippotherapy on postural stability, in persons with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2007 Jun;31(2):77-84. — View Citation

Silkwood-Sherer D. Hippotherapy as an Intervention to Improve Postural Control of Children with Movement Disorders. Dev Med Child Neurol 51(S5):18-19, 2009 [abstract]

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Pediatric Balance Scale	The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) is a standardized 14 item test of various component activities related to balance. It is a modified child version of the adult Berg Balance Scale. The PBS has high total score test-retest reliability of ICC (3,1) =0.998, as well as good interrater reliability (ICC(3,1) = 0.997).1	8-9 weeks	No
Secondary	Activities Scale for Kids	Activities Scale for Kids - Participation (ASKp) is a self-administered 30 item questionaire that measures the impact of children's disability to overall function and participation within relevant environments. It correlates well with parent reports on the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (r=0.81, p<0.000) and clinician observations of children's function (ICC=0.92, p<0.000).	8-9 weeks	No

External Links

•   Non profit organization that provides education, standards, terminology for physical, occupational and speech language pathologists using hippotherapy as part of their practice.