Effectiveness of equine therapy in children with psychomotor impairment

Abstract

Introduction: Equine therapy, an intervention method that has been practiced for decades around the world, is used to treat patients susceptible to psychomotor delays.

Objectives: We examine development of gross motor function compared to other psychomotor skills in patients undergoing this therapy, and analyse how this improvement affects general health status and quality of life.

Material and methods: The study includes 11 children with delayed psychomotor development (aged 8.82 ± 3.89; 6 boys, 5 girls). The main study variables were gross motor function (GMFM-88) and perceived quality of life (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, PedsQL). Three measurements were performed: before and after a period of inactivity, and once again 2 months after the second measurement, following completion of a sustained period of therapy.

Results: We observed significant differences in overall results on the GMFM-88 between the initial and final tests and between the intermediate and final tests. Regarding the PedsQL quality of life scale, no statistically significant results were recorded.

Conclusions: Noticeable changes in motor control were recorded throughout the course of the intervention, which suggests that equine therapy may be appropriate treatment in cases of delayed psychomotor development.

Keywords: Control motor; Equine therapy; Equitación terapéutica; Hipoterapia; Hippotherapy; Motor control; Psychomotor impairment; Retraso psicomotor; Terapia ecuestre; Therapeutic riding.

Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.