 Hippotherapy
has been shown to be one of the most efficient
and effective treatments used
to improve posture, balance, mobility, and
function in patients with motor disorders.
In
hippotherapy, a specially trained physical
or occupational therapist properly positions
the patient on the horse, analyzes the
patient's response and directs the horse's
movement
to achieve specific patient treatment goals.
The
horse is
used as a unique treatment modality in
conjunction with traditional therapies.
As the horse walks, its center of gravity
is displaced
three-dimensionally with back and forth,
up and down, side to side, and rotational
movements.
The horse's movement has a therapeutic
effect on the patient with a precise, repetitive
pattern of movement very similar to the
movement
of
a
person's pelvis during normal walking.
Additionally, the movement of the horse produces
sensory
input to the brain and the nervous system
of the patient.
Major
aims of hippotherapy include mobilization
of the pelvis, lumbar spine and hip joints,
normalization of muscle tone, development
of head and trunk
postural control and development of equilibrium
reactions in the trunk. In fact, improvement
in postural control and trunk equilibrium
reactions can be achieved more easily
on the horse than
in the clinic. The horse's rhythmical
movements transmit symmetrical sensory input
to
the patient in a way that cannot be imitated
by a mechanical
apparatus or with any degree of consistency
in the traditional occupational and physical
therapy
clinic. Therefore, hippotherapy offers
an
alternative and valuable adjunct to more
conventional treatment
modalities.
Hippotherapy benefits individuals with
movement dysfunction due to developmental
disabilities,
including:
• Autism
• Cerebral Palsy
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Stroke (CVA)
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Paraplegia, Spina Bifida, & other spinal
disorders
• Developmental delays
To
Register, Contact our Physical Therapist
at (269)731-4471 Ext.16 |
