Hippotherapy Versus Swiss Ball Training to Improve Trunk Control and Balance on Spastic Daiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Effects of Hippotherapy Versus Swiss Ball Training to Improve Trunk Control and Balance on Spastic Daiplegic Child

To compare effect in both intervention

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplegia
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Hippotherapy; Other: Swiss Ball therapy

Detailed Description

In this study we will compare the effects of hippotherapy and swiss ball therapy. Our objectives of the study are To compare the effects of hippotherapy and Swiss ball training, to improve trunk control and balance on spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 52
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Khyberpakhtunkhuwa
    • Dīr, Khyberpakhtunkhuwa, Pakistan, 25000
      • Helping hand for relief and development

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:• Children (male and female)

• Age group 4 to 11 years
• Subject diagnosed with CP
• Mild Spastic Diaplegic of the lower limbs according to the modified ashworth scale grade 1 to 1+
• GMFM scale sitting balance score less than 20
• Medically stable and able to understand commands

Exclusion Criteria:• Children with mental retardation,

• Epilepsy, other associated neurological disorders, other type of cerebral palsy,
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sensory issues(poor visual or hearing acuity)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Hippotherapy; Patients suffering with diplegic therapy will perform their exercise protocols on a stationary horse.The child is seat astride the horse wearing a helmet and was encouraged to perform various activities designed to emphasize movement in a forward and upward reaching direction to encourage active postural control, trunk strength, balance and trunk/pelvic dissociation.30 minutes to 1 hour with a frequency ranging from 4 sessions per week and the total duration of horseback riding 6 weeks.	Other: Hippotherapy; Patient will perform different movement of the trunk while sitting on a horse.
Active Comparator: Swiss Ball therapy; Children of second group will receive swiss ball therapy. Position the child to sit on the ball and giving extension rotation and flexion rotation to the child. This will facilitate trunk rotation by which the upper body is towards the weight bearing hip and away from the weight bearing hip.Training program 4 times per weeks with the treatment session of 30 minutes for 6 weeks duration	Other: Swiss Ball therapy; Patient will perform movements of trunk on swiss ball

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Trunk Control Measurement Scale	Changes from Baseline The TCMS scale assesses seated trunk control in three dimensions. The maximum score is 58 points where 20 points correspond to static balance, 28 to selective movement control, and 10 to the ability to perform dynamic reaching	6 weeks
Pediatric Balance Scale	Changes from Baseline Pediatric Balance Scale is a modified version of the Berg Balance Scale that is used to assess functional balance skills in school-aged children. The scale consists of 14 items that are scored from 0 points (lowest function) to 4 points (highest function) with a maximum score of 56 points	6 weeks
Gross Motor Functional Scale	Changes from baseline The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) is an observational clinical tool designed to evaluate change in gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy.Greater score means higher functional level	6weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ayesha Bashir, MSNMPT, Riphah International University Islamabad

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 14, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 14, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): September 21, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 21, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 18, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Brain Damage, Chronic; Cerebral Palsy; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Patient Care; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Animal Assisted Therapy; Equine-Assisted Therapy
• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/00123Mehrin Wadood

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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