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. 2023 Apr 1;35(2):202-210.
doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000999. Epub 2023 Mar 3.

Effects of Hippotherapy on Postural Control in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

Fernanda Peia  1 , Nathalie Caroline Veiga, Ana Paula Gomes, Bruna Neves Dos Santos, Nívia Maria Silva Marques, Igor Phillip Dos Santos Glória, Juliana Barbosa Goulardins
Affiliations

Effects of Hippotherapy on Postural Control in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

Fernanda Peia et al. Pediatr Phys Ther. .

Abstract

Purpose: To summarize and update the current knowledge on the effectiveness of hippotherapy on postural control in children with cerebral palsy.

Methods: Using a systematic review methodology, the electronic databases PubMed, Virtual Health Library, PEDro, Scielo, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for eligible articles from 2011 up to September 2021. Quality assessment of eligible studies was performed using the PEDro scale.

Results: There were 239 identified studies. Eight clinical trials were selected. The total sample consisted of 264 individuals, with 134 allocated to the experimental group (hippotherapy) and 130 individuals to the control group (conventional therapy). Most studies had moderate to high methodological quality.

Conclusions: Hippotherapy can be an effective intervention to improve several aspects related to postural control, such as static balance (especially in the sitting posture), dynamic balance, and alignment (body posture) in children aged 3 to 16 years, particularly with spastic hemiplegia or diplegia.

What this adds to the evidence: This review summarizes studies that explore potential effects of hippotherapy on postural control in children with cerebral palsy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Comment in

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