Equine-Assisted Physiotherapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (HIPOSMA)

Immediate and Sustained Effects of Intensive Equine-Assisted Physiotherapy in Children With Spinal Muscular Atrophy

This prospective interventional study evaluates the immediate and sustained effects of intensive equine-assisted physiotherapy in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The study compares an intensive equine-assisted physiotherapy program (NEUROEQUIP-SMA) with an individualized physiotherapy program based on SMA standard of care and neuroproprioceptive facilitation and inhibition principles (SMA-SOC-N). Both interventions are delivered as intensive 6-day rehabilitation programs. Outcomes include motor function, postural control, respiratory function, movement quality assessed by three-dimensional motion analysis, neuromuscular activity, quality of life, and selected molecular biomarkers. The study also evaluates the safety and tolerability of intensive rehabilitation in children with SMA.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Therapeutic grooming; Procedure: Individual physiotherapy (SMA-SOC-N); Procedure: Equine-Assisted Physiotherapy Based on Neuroproprioceptive Facilitation and Inhibition

Detailed Description

Spinal muscular atrophy is rare neuromuscular disease, it is caused by gene mutation survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1). This gene encodes survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. This protein is most important to survive alfa-motoric neurons in spinal cord. When this protein doesn´t work, no signals go from brain to skeletal muscles and fazic muscles of body. In the end weakening breathing muscles and internal organs muscles.

Disease-modifying therapies have substantially changed the natural history of SMA. In the Czech Republic, currently available pharmacological treatment includes nusinersen (Spinraza), onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) and risdiplam (Evrysdi). As survival and motor abilities of children with SMA improve, rehabilitation has become an increasingly important part of comprehensive care. Physiotherapy is one of the recommended rehabilitation types.

The use of rehabilitation procedures is common in clinical practice. In a 2016 study, 105 adults with SMA were asked how many of them used physiotherapy. A total of 86% of respondents received these services, yet the authors of the article conclude that further research is needed to understand the impact of physiotherapy in SMA.

Nevertheless, there is a lot of discussion if physiotherapy is really good for people and children with SMA. Some research shows us, that physiotherapy doesn´t worsen this disease. Researchers showed that strength training 3 times a week does not show side effects in children under 10 years of age, in some cases trends in improving muscle strength and motor functions have been observed.

Because in physiotherapy therapists work primarily with muscles, and a lot of activity can cause fatigue of skeletal muscles and worsen their function. But from clinical work scientists know that the effect of physiotherapy is extensive. There is a research on mice which shows the effect of physiotherapy on the strength activities and the aerobic activities.

Research to better elucidate the intensity of physiotherapy has not yet been published. Motes et al. monitored a total of 16 patients with SMA aged 10 - 55 years, who regularly underwent home autotherapy for 16 months - cycling and strengthening. The authors did not find any side effects of exercise on strength, function or fatigue during the study. However, the oxidation capacity has been reduced and according to the authors, further research is needed in this area.

In the United States, the "Standard of Care" (SMA-SOC) has been developed for SMA, which regulates the rehabilitation care of children and adults with SMA according to the degree of mobility. In the framework of the said directive, the stretching of contractures, swimming, water therapy, light strength exercises and a verticalization stand are recommended within the framework of physiotherapy, and horse riding is also mentioned - but without more detailed information. Vibration techniques and positioning are recommended to improve breathing. Recommended exercises for seated persons also include concentric and eccentric exercises and aerobic and general fitness exercises with and without resistance. According to the directive, the duration of therapy should be adapted to the individual patient. For walkers, the exercise program may include some forms of balance exercises, dynamic and static.

In a study from 2021, physiotherapists were asked about their knowledge of SMA-SOC and its use in practice. Most of them stated that after individuals with SMA started disease-modifying pharmacotherapy, they would recommend increasing the frequency and duration of therapeutic interventions. The authors agree that in practice there are differences in the care of people with SMA, especially in the frequency and duration of specific interventions. At the same time, they state that these findings can identify future research needs and thus extend SMA-SOC to rehabilitation management best practices.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of intensive rehabilitation in children with spinal muscular atrophy receiving disease-modifying therapy. The study evaluates changes in motor function, postural control, respiratory function, movement quality, neuromuscular activity, quality of life and selected molecular biomarkers following intensive rehabilitation.

The secondary intention of the research is to determine an appropriate intensity of rehabilitation so that unwanted muscle fatigue does not occur.

Investigators will therefore investigate the neurophysiological mechanisms of rehabilitation that investigators will monitor using long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in important cellular regulation, including regulation of genomic imprinting, epigenetic chromatin modification, transcriptional interference, and nuclear export. The lncRNA, SMN-antisense 1 (SMN-AS1), has been shown to repress the expression of the duplicate survival motor neuron 2 (SMN2) gene by binding Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) to its locus. Increasing the transcriptional activity of an almost identical SMN2 gene can functionally compensate for the loss of SMN1, increase the amount of SMN protein and thus improve the prognosis of the disease. Chemically modified oligonucleotides have been proposed that disrupt the interaction between SMN-AS1 and PRC2, which inhibits the action of PRC2 and thus leads to increased SMN2 expression.

Investigation of lncRNAs involved in the processes of gene regulation of these genes may help to understand the neurophysiological effects of rehabilitation of children with SMA.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 21
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Czechia
  • Prague, Czechia, 128 00
    • Kamila Řasová

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 2 years to 6 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• clinic diagnosis SMA (I, II, and III types)
• no changing medicine 6 months at least
• without another grave diseases

Exclusion Criteria:

• hip luxation
• allergies to horses and the environment of horse stables
• insurmountable fear of the horse

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Therapeutic grooming; In order to influence the psychomotor development in a comprehensive way, the psychosocial activity of therapeutic grooming will also be included in the study. Its goal is to support children's communication, their interaction with the environment, the ability to establish contact with the horse and the overall emotional support of children with SMA.	Procedure: Therapeutic grooming; In order to influence the psychomotor development in a comprehensive way, the psychosocial activity of therapeutic grooming will also be included in the study. Its goal is to support children's communication, their interaction with the environment, the ability to establish contact with the horse and the overall emotional support of children with SMA. The purpose of this activity is to clean the horse, its possible guide, stroking and contact with the horse, work from the ground.
Active Comparator: Individual physiotherapy (SMA-SOC-N); Individual physiotherapy will be performed according to the SMA-SOC-N protocol, based on the principles of the international Standard of Care (SMA-SOC) recommendations and adapted to the individual needs of children with spinal muscular atrophy.	Procedure: Individual physiotherapy (SMA-SOC-N); Therapeutic procedures according to the international Standard of Care (SMA-SOC) recommendations, complemented by the principles of neuroproprioceptive facilitation and inhibition, will be used during therapy. Elements of breathing gymnastics, vibration techniques, stretching, eccentric and concentric exercise procedures will be combined. Individual physiotherapy will be conducted on the basis of set goals from the kinesiological examination, it will be adapted to the individuality of the child - his cooperation, fatigue and sleep time.
Experimental: Equine-Assisted Physiotherapy Based on Neuroproprioceptive Facilitation and Inhibition; Equine-assisted physiotherapy based on neuroproprioceptive facilitation and inhibition is an accredited form of hippotherapy. Its methodology was originally developed based on the clinical presentation of children with cerebral palsy; however, its therapeutic principles are applicable to a broader group of children with neurological disabilities, including children with spinal muscular atrophy.	Procedure: Equine-Assisted Physiotherapy Based on Neuroproprioceptive Facilitation and Inhibition; HT by CP is an accredited form of hippotherapy, whose methodology is based on the clinical picture of cerebral palsy. In this study, the accredited HT by CP methodology was applied to children with spinal muscular atrophy and complemented by principles of neuroproprioceptive facilitation and inhibition. Based on a special type of examination, this method precisely determines the "type / breed" of the horse according to the biomechanics of the movement of its back in the step, the position of the child and the neurophysiological function of the back - differentiation or sensorimotor skills. Furthermore, according to the course of therapy, the physiotherapist determines the pace of the horse's step, its length, selects special manual contacts according to the current situation and adjusts the duration of therapy to the client's fatigue. Therapy will be performed by therapists with professional competence to perform hippotherapy by children with CP.; Other Names: Hippotherapy by the children with cerebral palsy (HT by CP)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The ability of the thorax to change shape	The examination will take place lying on your back. 3 position markers will be placed on each side of the thorax, in the area of the distal end of the sternum axes, at the level of the 3rd rib and at the lowest arch of the 10th rib. Their position during exhalation and inspiration will be measured, and the change in thorax circumference will be evaluated. The aim of this test is to objectify the change in respiratory stereotype. After therapy, investigators expect a greater ability of the thorax to change direction.	15 minutes
Sitting symmetry	Observations will be made by sitting on a therapy cylinder. There will be special markers on the body (on clothes) of children: lower angles of the scapulae axes, ridge of the iliac axes, sacroiliac joint (SI) on both sides and in the area of the L4 vertebra and navel. Investigators will measure the symmetry of these marks in each other's position and the movement in which the child will walk back and forth with his hands. Markers will be analyzed using Qualisys Motion Capture Systems 2020.3. Acceleration and change of position will be evaluated in the second time.	5 minutes
Work with the center of gravity	Observation will be performed by sitting on therapeutic cylinder. 3 position markers will be used on each side of the body, at the root of the palm, in the area of the SI joint and at the level of the temporomandibular joint. The change of markers will be measured from the starting position until the child is stretched to the side (torso tilt with lug) and forward (torso flexion with forearm). The monitoring child will be motivated to reach for the toy. The goal is to evaluate the stability of children. Investigators assume, that after therapy investigators can see better work with the center of gravity.	10 minutes
Muscle fatigue	Investigators will measure muscle fatigue after physical activity using surface EMG. The child will lie on his back, therapist will provide a toy in the area of his opposite knee. The child will stretch for a toy. This act will be 30 s. Investigators will evaluate activity m.obliquus externus abdominis at the beginning and end of this specific activity. Goal is to evaluate muscle fatigue. Investigators assume, that after intensive therapeutic program will be muscle fatigue lower.	10 minutes
Hammersmith function scale for children with spinal muscular atrophy	The examination will follow a standardized procedure. The maximum score of the standardized test is 64 points on each side, the minimum is 0 points. A higher score means an improvement in the child's movement possibilities.	40 minutes
Deep neck flexor endurance test	The examination will follow a standardized procedure. Longer holding in the position means a better result, the exact holding time is not standardized for this test.	5 minutes
Neck extensor endurance test	The examination will follow a standardized procedure. Longer holding in the position means a better result, the exact holding time is not standardized for this test.	5 minutes
Spirometric measure	The spirometer will be used to determine the forced expiratory volume in 1 second forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) value, i.e the volume of air exhaled after the maximum inspiration with the greatest effort within 1 second. The change in value at the beginning and end of the rehabilitation stay will be evaluated.	2 minutes
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders (CHOP INTEND)	The CHOP INTEND is a validated clinical scale designed to assess motor function in infants and young children with spinal muscular atrophy. It consists of 16 items. Total scores range from 0 to 64, with higher scores indicating better motor function.	Baseline and Day 7

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Quality of life assessment	Parents of child with SMA will fill special questionnaire at the beginning and 4-5 weeks after end of the rehabilitation. The ICF score set, more precisely the ICF-based Documentation Form, the category Children with cerebral palsy Brief (below 6 years old),supplemented by some items from the basic rehabilitation set, will be used to evaluate the quality of life.	120 minutes
Monitoring of molecular biological indicators of rehabilitation	Samples treated in this way can be safely stored at room temperature for longer periods of time (up to three days or more). Blood samples stored in Ribonucleic acid (RNAlater)® Solution achieve RNA quality comparable to the quality of samples processed immediately according to commercial websites. The expected average total RNA yields will be about 2-4 /g / 0.5 ml all blood. Total RNA will be transcribed into complementary deoxyribonucleic acid complementary (cDNA) by reverse transcriptase. To avoid error, the expression of human lncRNA and internal endogenous gene (e.g., GAPDH) will be quantified using RNA obtained from blinded samples (i.e., concealment of sample origin allocation).	10 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Charles University, Czech Republic
• Investigators: Study Director: Kamila Rasova, as.prof.Dr., Clinic of rheumatology and rehabilitation, Third medical faculty CU and Faculty Thomayer Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 22, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 25, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 20, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 18, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 18, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 22, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: quality of life; children; physiotherapy; muscle fatigue; posture; motor skills; hippotherapy; psychomotor development; therapeutic riding
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Spinal Cord Diseases; Motor Neuron Disease; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal
• Other Study ID Numbers: 18032022

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES

IPD Plan Description

Clinical Study Report (CSR) and Analytic Code will be shared when data is collected.

Study Protocol, Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP), Informed Consent Form (ICF) are shared as attachment of this registration.

• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Done now: Study protocol, Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP), Informed Consent Form (ICF) 22.4. - 29.4.2022, 24.9. - 30.9.2022: Clinical Study Report (CSR) 2023 - 2024: Analytic Code
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Researcher can write us for access to data code.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF; ANALYTIC_CODE; CSR

Study Data/Documents

1. Study Protocol
2. Statistical Analysis Plan
3. Informed Consent Form

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No