Open AccessHippotherapy: benefits in children with cerebral palsy with application of the Rehabilitation Treatment Taxonomy / Equoterapia: benefícios em crianças com paralisia cerebral com a aplicação da taxonomia de tratamento em reabilitação
Author(s) -
Juliana Maria Pimenta Starling,
Ana Paula Bensemann Gontijo,
Rosana Ferreira Sampaio,
Juliana Vaz de Melo Mambrini,
Sérgio Teixeira da Fonseca,
Marisa Cotta Mancini
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brazilian journal of animal and environmental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2595-573X
DOI - 10.34188/bjaerv4n2-078
Subject(s) - cerebral palsy , diplegia , rehabilitation , spastic diplegia , medicine , gross motor function classification system , gross motor skill , physical therapy , psychosocial , pediatrics , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychology , motor skill , psychiatry
Purpose: To explore the effects of hippotherapy for children with cerebral palsy (CP) with different ages, topographies and severities. Method: Before-after study with three longitudinal measurements: (T1) initial, (T2) 3-months, (T3) 6-months after T1. CP children (n=31) stratified by age (4-7; 8-12 years), severity (mild, moderate, severe), topography (hemiplegia, diplegia, quadriplegia), previous hippotherapy time (3-6m, 6 months) undertook their individual weekly 30-minute hippotherapy sessions. Postural control and balance (PCB) was the primary outcome; gross-motor function (GMF) and quality of life (QL) were the secondary outcomes. Results: Changes in PCB associated with changes in GMF. Older children, with mild severity and diplegia had higher PCB and GMF scores between T1 and T3. Age groups’ initial differences in QL disappeared after 6 months. The Rehabilitation Treatment Taxonomy (RTT) guided interpretation of effects. Conclusion: The positive changes in motor and psychosocial outcomes depended on children’s age, time in rehabilitation and type of CP.