Does hippotherapy effect use of sensory information for balance in people with multiple sclerosis?
- 14 October 2015
- journal article
- case report
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Physiotherapy Theory and Practice
- Vol. 31 (8), 575-581
- https://doi.org/10.3109/09593985.2015.1067266
Abstract
Objective: This case-series study aimed to determine if there were observable changes in sensory processing for postural control in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) following physical therapy using hippotherapy (HPOT), or changes in balance and functional gait. Design: This pre-test non-randomized design study, with follow-up assessment at 6 weeks, included two females and one male (age range 37–60 years) with diagnoses of relapse-remitting or progressive MS. The intervention consisted of twelve 40-min physical therapy sessions which included HPOT twice a week for 6 weeks. Sensory organization and balance were assessed by the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Gait was assessed using the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA). Results: Following the intervention period, all three participants showed improvements in SOT (range 1–8 points), BBS (range 2–6 points), and FGA (average 4 points) scores. These improvements were maintained or continued to improve at follow-up assessment. Two of the three participants no longer over-relied on vision and/or somatosensory information as the primary sensory input for postural control, suggesting improved use of sensory information for balance. Conclusion: The results indicate that HPOT may be a beneficial physical therapy treatment strategy to improve balance, functional gait, and enhance how some individuals with MS process sensory cues for postural control. Randomized clinical trials will be necessary to validate results of this study.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Reliability and clinical significance of mobility and balance assessments in multiple sclerosisInternational Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 2012
- Gait Abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis: Pathogenesis, Evaluation, and Advances in TreatmentCurrent Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 2011
- Psychometric Comparisons of 3 Functional Ambulation Measures for Patients With StrokeStroke, 2010
- Postural Control in Multiple Sclerosis: Implications for Fall PreventionCurrent Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 2010
- Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Hippotherapy on Symmetry of Adductor Muscle Activity and Functional Ability in Children With Spastic Cerebral PalsyArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2009
- Sensory impairments in quiet standing in subjects with multiple sclerosisMultiple Sclerosis Journal, 2009
- Home Balance Training Intervention for People With Multiple SclerosisInternational Journal of MS Care, 2007
- Validity of six balance disorders scales in persons with multiple sclerosisDisability and Rehabilitation, 2006
- Evaluation of therapeutic riding (Sweden)/hippotherapy (United States). A single-subject experimental design study replicated in eleven patients with multiple sclerosisPhysiotherapy Theory and Practice, 2005
- Vestibular and Sensory Interaction Deficits Assessed by Dynamic Platform Posturography in Patients with Multiple SclerosisAnnals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, 1995