Hippotherapy Improves Gross Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy: Evidence from a Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Pediatric Neurology
• Therapeutic Interventions

Background:

• Hippotherapy utilizes equine movement for physical and psychosocial rehabilitation.
• Children with cerebral palsy (CP) may benefit from hippotherapy.
• Standardized instruments are crucial for quantifying motor function outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the effects of hippotherapy on gross motor skills in children with CP.
• To assess the utility of instruments like the Activity Scale for Kids-Performance (ASK©), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM).

Main Methods:

• A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched six databases for studies using ASK©, GMFCS, or GMFM.
• Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed bias.

Main Results:

• Twenty-five studies involving 602 children with CP were included; no studies on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were identified.
• Hippotherapy interventions ranged from 8-24 weeks, 1-3 sessions/week.
• Significant motor gains were observed, especially with GMFM, particularly in standing, walking, and running dimensions.

Conclusions:

• Hippotherapy demonstrates efficacy in improving gross motor function in children with CP, with GMFM being a key measure.
• A significant research gap exists regarding hippotherapy's effects on ASD.
• Further application of ASK© and GMFCS is needed to fully understand benefits across neurodevelopmental disorders.