Spinal Cord Injury
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Lechner HE, Kakebeeke TH, Hegermann D, Baumberger M
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (2007)
Description
To determine the effect of hippotherapy on spasticity and on mental well-being of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), and to compare it with the effects of other interventions.
Results
By analyzing the clinically rated spasticity, only the effect of hippotherapy reached significance compared with the control condition (without intervention); median differences in the Ashworth scores’ sum before and after hippotherapy sessions ranged between −8.0 and +0.5. There was a significant difference between the spasticity-reducing effect of hippotherapy and the other 2 interventions in self-rated spasticity by VAS; median differences of the VAS before and after hippotherapy sessions ranged between −4.6 and +0.05cm. There were no long-term effects on spasticity. Immediate improvements in the subjects’ mental well-being were detected only after hippotherapy (P=.048).
Conclusion
Hippotherapy is more efficient than sitting astride a Bobath roll or on a rocking seat in reducing spasticity temporarily. Hippotherapy had a positive short-term effect on subjects’ mental well-being.
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