Effects of Weekly Hippotherapy Frequency on Children With Cerebral Palsy

The hippotherapy is considered a therapeutic modality that provides numerous benefits in the rehabilitation process and has often been recommended by doctors for children with cerebral palsy. Despite being in frank ascent, this therapy still lacks scientific evidence. Objectives: To analyze and compare the effects of hippotherapy program, often 1 or 2 days a week in gross motor function, trunk balance and functional performance of children with cerebral palsy.

Study characterized by a controlled experiment with a sample of 24 children, aged between 2 and 4 years, were randomly divided into control group (CG), with 9 participants, with the use of 1 to week and experimental group, also with 11 participants, 2 times a week intervention. The call followed protocol and took place once or twice a week lasting 30 minutes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children from 2 to 6 years of age with diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, besides medical, physiotherapeutic and psychological referral with indication of the practice of Hippotherapy
• Children classified with GMFCS levels 2, 3, 4 or 5
• Understanding, agreement and signing of the Free and Informed Consent Form
• Understanding, agreement and signing of the Free and Informed Assent Term, when applicable
• Possibility to participate in a riding program 1 or 2 times a week for a period of 16 weeks
• Conduct traditional physiotherapy concomitantly 1 or 2 times a week

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of associated syndromes or structural deformities that make Hippotherapy impossible
• Present seizures without medication control
• Does not have enough hip joint amplitude for riding (about 20 degrees of abduction)
• To have an invasive or surgical procedure during the study
• Have previously participated in an Equine Therapy program