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. 2014 Jan;26(1):25-7.
doi: 10.1589/jpts.26.25. Epub 2014 Feb 6.

The effects of hippotherapy on elderly persons' static balance and gait

Seong Gil Kim  1 , Chae-Woo Lee  2
Affiliations

The effects of hippotherapy on elderly persons' static balance and gait

Seong Gil Kim et al. J Phys Ther Sci. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the effects of hippotherapy on elderly persons' static balance and gait. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-two elderly persons residing in the community were randomly divided into a hippotherapy group and a treadmill group and they conducted exercise for eight weeks. [Results] Step lengths increased significantly, and step time and sway path lengths significantly decreased in both groups. A comparison of sway path lengths after the intervention between the two groups revealed that the hippotherapy group showed larger decreases than the treadmill group. [Conclusion] The results of this study indicate that hippotherapy may improve the static balance and gait of elderly persons residing in the community.

Keywords: Balance; Elderly; Hippotherapy.

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