Hippotherapy for patients with multiple sclerosis: A multicenter randomized controlled trial (MS-HIPPO)

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Complementary Therapies

Background:

• Evidence-based complementary treatment options for multiple sclerosis (MS) are limited.
• Investigating novel therapeutic approaches is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of hippotherapy as an adjunct to standard care for patients with multiple sclerosis.
• To assess the impact of hippotherapy on balance, fatigue, pain, quality of life, and spasticity in MS patients.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 70 adults with MS across five German centers.
• Participants were allocated to either a 12-week hippotherapy intervention group or a standard care control group.
• Primary outcome was change in Berg Balance Scale (BBS); secondary outcomes included fatigue, pain, quality of life (MSQoL-54), and spasticity.

Main Results:

• Hippotherapy significantly improved BBS scores (mean difference 2.33, p=0.047), with greater benefits in those with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≥ 5.
• Significant improvements were observed in fatigue (p=0.02) and spasticity (p=0.03) in the intervention group.
• Quality of life scores, both physical (p<0.001) and mental (p<0.001), showed significant improvement with hippotherapy.

Conclusions:

• Hippotherapy, when added to standard care, offers significant benefits for multiple sclerosis patients.
• The therapy demonstrated improvements in balance, fatigue, spasticity, and overall quality of life.
• While not reaching minimal clinically important difference, the observed improvements suggest hippotherapy as a valuable complementary treatment option for MS.