Hippotherapy to Improve the Balance of Children With Movement Disorders

NCT01313325 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 09/14/2006
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 16
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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.

Conditions

Neuromuscular Diseases; Cerebral Palsy; Down Syndrome; Autism; Developmental Coordination Disorder

Keywords

hippotherapy; neuromuscular disorders; balance deficits; participation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 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

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Activities Scale for Kids

  8-9 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Treatment group

EXPERIMENTAL

Children between 5-17 years who have balance deficits related to any movement disorder (preferably neuromuscular)

Other: Hippotherapy

Interventions

Hippotherapy OTHER

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.

Treatment group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 5 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Central Michigan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

CHUM Therapeutic Riding Center

Dansville, Michigan, 48854, United States

Location

Related Publications (6)

• 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.

  PMID: 19480872 BACKGROUND

• Casady RL, Nichols-Larsen DS. The effect of hippotherapy on ten children with cerebral palsy. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2004 Fall;16(3):165-72. doi: 10.1097/01.PEP.0000136003.15233.0C.

  PMID: 17057544 BACKGROUND

• 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. doi: 10.1089/107555303771952163.

  PMID: 14736353 BACKGROUND

• 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. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0b013e31806769f7.

  PMID: 17558361 BACKGROUND

• 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]

  RESULT

• Silkwood-Sherer DJ, Killian CB, Long TM, Martin KS. Hippotherapy--an intervention to habilitate balance deficits in children with movement disorders: a clinical trial. Phys Ther. 2012 May;92(5):707-17. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20110081. Epub 2012 Jan 12.

  PMID: 22247403 DERIVED

Related Links

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

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neuromuscular Diseases; Cerebral Palsy; Down Syndrome; Autistic Disorder; Motor Skills Disorders

Interventions

Equine-Assisted Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nervous System Diseases; Brain Damage, Chronic; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Intellectual Disability; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Abnormalities, Multiple; Congenital Abnormalities; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Chromosome Disorders; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Animal Assisted Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Debbie J Silkwood-Sherer, PT, DHS

  Central Michigan University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 9, 2011
• First Posted: March 11, 2011
• Study Start: September 1, 2006
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2007
• Study Completion: December 1, 2007
• Last Updated: March 11, 2011

Record last verified: 2011-03

Locations

US (1)