Effects of Weekly Hippotherapy Frequency on Children With Cerebral Palsy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The hippotherapy is considered a therapeutic modality that provides numerous benefits in the rehabilitation process and has often been recommended by doctors for children with cerebral palsy. Despite being in frank ascent, this therapy still lacks scientific evidence. Objectives: To analyze and compare the effects of hippotherapy program, often 1 or 2 days a week in gross motor function, trunk balance and functional performance of children with cerebral palsy.

Detailed Description
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Study characterized by a controlled experiment with a sample of 24 children, aged between 2 and 4 years, were randomly divided into control group (CG), with 9 participants, with the use of 1 to week and experimental group, also with 11 participants, 2 times a week intervention. The call followed protocol and took place once or twice a week lasting 30 minutes.

Conditions
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Cerebral Palsy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Hippotherapy once a week
* Other: Hippotherapy twice a week


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Children from 2 to 6 years of age with diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, besides medical, physiotherapeutic and psychological referral with indication of the practice of Hippotherapy Children classified with GMFCS levels 2, 3, 4 or 5 Understanding, agreement and signing of the Free and Informed Consent Form Understanding, agreement and signing of the Free and Informed Assent Term, when applicable Possibility to participate in a riding program 1 or 2 times a week for a period of 16 weeks Conduct traditional physiotherapy concomitantly 1 or 2 times a week Exclusion Criteria: Presence of associated syndromes or structural deformities that make Hippotherapy impossible Present seizures without medication control Does not have enough hip joint amplitude for riding (about 20 degrees of abduction) To have an invasive or surgical procedure during the study Have previously participated in an Equine Therapy program

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 2 Years
Maximum Age: 4 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Hippotherapy once a week<br>Hippotherapy once a week; | Other: Hippotherapy once a week<br>* Hippotherapy once a week<br>|
| Experimental: Hippotherapy twice a week<br>hippotherapy twice a week | Other: Hippotherapy twice a week<br>* Hippotherapy twice a week<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Effects of weekly frequency of hippotherapy on gross motor function through GMFM (gross motor function measurement) of children with cerebral palsy. | GMFM - quantitative scale assessing 5 dimensions of motor development. | one year | 
| Effects of weekly frequency of hippotherapy on functional performance through the Pediatric Disability Inventory (PEDI) of children with cerebral palsy. | PEDI Inventory - quantitative scale that evaluates the functional performance, among others, for self care, mobility and social function. | one year | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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hippotherapy Gross Motor Function Functional performance.