Clinical trial NCT01313325: Hippotherapy to Improve the Balance of Children With Movement Disorders
Official title: Hippotherapy to Improve Balance Deficits in a Cohort of Children With Movement Disorders: A Pilot Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Neuromuscular Diseases
Cerebral Palsy
Down Syndrome
Autism
Developmental Coordination Disorder
Keywords: hippotherapy
neuromuscular disorders
balance deficits
participation
Lead sponsor: Central Michigan University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2011-03-11
Enrollment: 16
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 5
Maximum age (years): 17
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to determine if adding hippotherapy treatment will improve balance for children ages 5-17 who have disabilities such as cerebral palsy and down syndrome. We also want to find out if by improving their balance the children increase their participation in age appropriate activities.

Detailed description: The primary purpose of this study is to determine the effects of hippotherapy on the balance of children with developmental disorders that cause mild to moderate balance problems. The secondary purpose is to determine if the use of hippotherapy also improves perceived functional abilities and thus quality of life as measured by the pediatric balance scale and Activities Scale for Kids (respectively)

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* between the ages of 5 and 17
* have a neuromuscular diagnosis or confirmed difficulties with balance
* be able to stand 4 seconds without an assistive device
* be able to follow testing instructions
* must be under 250 pounds
* be able to attend a minimum 10/12 sessions.

Exclusion Criteria:

* any compounding orthopedic or medical condition not related to the primary developmental diagnosis.
* previous hippotherapy intervention or therapeutic riding experience
* allergies or aversion to horses.
* refusal of parents to sign the therapeutic riding center's liability release form
* any new treatments (includes therapies, drugs, or other complementary treatments) within one month of the start of the study or plans for new treatments during the intervention period
* lack of a physician referral for physical therapy

Primary outcomes:
measure: Pediatric Balance Scale
timeFrame: 8-9 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Activities Scale for Kids
timeFrame: 8-9 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Dansville
country: United States
facility: CHUM Therapeutic Riding Center
state: Michigan
Study officials:
affiliation: Central Michigan University
name: Debbie J Silkwood-Sherer, PT, DHS
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: McGibbon NH, Benda W, Duncan BR, Silkwood-Sherer D. Immediate and long-term effects of hippotherapy on symmetry of adductor muscle activity and functional ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 Jun;90(6):966-74. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2009.01.011.
citation: Casady RL, Nichols-Larsen DS. The effect of hippotherapy on ten children with cerebral palsy. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2004 Fall;16(3):165-72. doi: 10.1097/01.PEP.0000136003.15233.0C.
citation: Benda W, McGibbon NH, Grant KL. Improvements in muscle symmetry in children with cerebral palsy after equine-assisted therapy (hippotherapy). J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Dec;9(6):817-25. doi: 10.1089/107555303771952163.
citation: Silkwood-Sherer D, Warmbier H. Effects of hippotherapy on postural stability, in persons with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2007 Jun;31(2):77-84. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0b013e31806769f7.
citation: Silkwood-Sherer D. Hippotherapy as an Intervention to Improve Postural Control of Children with Movement Disorders. Dev Med Child Neurol 51(S5):18-19, 2009 [abstract]
citation: Silkwood-Sherer DJ, Killian CB, Long TM, Martin KS. Hippotherapy--an intervention to habilitate balance deficits in children with movement disorders: a clinical trial. Phys Ther. 2012 May;92(5):707-17. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20110081. Epub 2012 Jan 12.