Hippotherapy. A multisystem approach to the treatment of neuromuscular disorders

Abstract

Hippotherapy is neither a gimmick nor a pony ride. The horse provides a graded, gait specific movement stimulus to the postural muscles of the trunk in a position that facilitates the inhibition of abnormal spastic patterns of movement in the lower limbs. In addition, multiple subsystems are affected even though these effects may not be the primary focus of the physiotherapist's treatment plan. Last, but by no means least, the hippotherapy setting is an ecologically sound environment. Patients feel as if they are doing something 'normal.' Because therapy is fun, lack of motivation and therapy burn-out do not exist.