Hippotherapy In Physical Therapy

This paper will inform the parents, educators, and American society of the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding for people who have cognitive challenges or loss of limbs and other functions. Therapy can happen on the horse as well as off, depending on the condition of the rider. Not all therapy has to be done on a horse. It can be done on the ground as well, by padding the horse, brushing the horse, leading the horse. Knowing you can conquer being around and taking care of a big horse gives those with challenges a sense of satisfaction and self confidence. Therapeutic horseback riding is wonderful for young people as well as older people with disabilities. Even if they cannot sit up straight, therapy can make it so that any individual can

Today there are hundreds of types of therapy programs for those with physical and psychological disorders. Though perhaps one of the most versatile, easily accessible types of therapies can be done through the use of a horse. Hippotherapy, specifically defined, is a “physical therapy in which a patient (as one affected with cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis) sits or lies on the back of a horse for the therapeutic effect of the horse's movement” (1). In the 5th century, Hippocrates revealed his belief that horses were healers. He described horseback riding as a universal exercise with a healing rhythm.

“The horse acts as the teacher and unlocks the client. The animal facilitates emotional breakthroughs, and the effect, therapists report, can be magical” (Hayley Sumner).

Pediatric physical therapists work to help disabled children and their families grow and become stronger every day. For about a century now, doctors have been making a valiant effort to improve the lives of children. Though it is not the most popular practice, pediatric physical therapy is certainly important to the lives of millions. Since the beginning of pediatrics, new discoveries are constantly being made. Pediatric physical therapy has been making ground breaking developments and progressions in all of its elements since it became popular in the 1920’s.

I was astonished to find out that disabled people can greatly benefit from their therapeutic riding, even when outside of the arena. The idea of someone being with an animal to improve his or her people skills is intriguing. My research suggests that disabled riders may possibly gain better people skills and sensations by being with a horse, rather than talking with a sophisticated human being. In my research, I found that www.sire-htec.org had a great description of how a disabled person would feel on top of a horse. It stated, the horses “rhythmic movements help stiff or spastic muscles to relax, much like rocking soothes a crying baby” (“Benefits”). This information was very helpful when discussing the

Before we jump into the main question, let's jump back to where it all started. Horse therapy dates back to around 600 b.c when the greeks rode horses for therapy. Later, in around 1946 equine therapy then was introduced in Scandinavia. Which then led to the North Americans beginning the handicapped riding which started around 1969. They soon recognized that riding horses or just being

Cerebral palsy cannot be cured although early support and therapeutic intervention can help children’s development.

The day-to-day writing in the field of Physical Therapy varies depending on the audience. The audience determines the purpose of the writing and writing style. Physical Therapists (PT) use evidence-based exercises and activities to rehabilitate their patients in order for them to reach their unique goal. Since PT’s work with both medical professionals and patients, they must adjust their writing to be able to communicate effectively. PT’s are just one of the many people in the medical field that may work with a particular patient so it is important that the communication between the different layers of the medical field are precise and clear. Writing to a patient is also important because they are the person who is being directly affected

The Ismael Pinto Association of Equine Therapy in Madrid summarizes principles and concepts relating to how equine therapy is beneficial. Horses transmit heat and rhythmic pulses from within their lumbar and ventral muscles that conduct

In his book On Joints, Hippocrates was a physician that identified two early techniques of spinal manipulation: succession and rachiotherapy. Succussion was gravity traction carried out forcefully and rachiotherapy utilized a custom table to produce a spinal adjustment. He is often cited for his saying, “Look well to the spine for the cause of disease,” as he found it integral that individuals were educated on the spinal column, since many disorders were thought to be related to the pine.

Throughout this experience, I watched as they targeted more than just strength and flexibility, but also balance, gait, coordination, and sensory issues. Their

Twenty American Quarter Horse geldings, aged between four and eight years and weighing ideally 1,000 to 1,300 pounds, shall be used. All horses should ideally be non-athletes that were previously kept as pleasure riding horses. The horses will be completely evaluated clinically and ultrasonongraphically by veterinarians blinded to the study before the experiment to ensure that there are no preexisting health conditions to hinder healing, or any history or signs of previous injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon. All horses will be placed in individual stalls and paddocks and adapted to their new daily routines for thirty days before the start of the experiment to allow acclimation. Any horses that obtain injury or disease during the course of the study will be removed from the study group to reduce confounding and returned to their provider.

Riding horses can help build strength in the body, but it can also be used as therapy. A few years ago, Haleigh volunteered at a therapeutic horseback riding business in Clinton, Iowa, called Bright Spot Inc. At Bright Spot, Haleigh and other volunteers, work with many children with different disabilities and help them overcome their problems. Their confidence is built when they ride the horses because they feel like they can do anything. Therapeutic horseback riding has been proven to really help out people with disabilities. Horseback riding can help disabled patients better than any other form of physical therapy. The physical benefits that can be improved form therapeutic horse riding is improved circulation, respiration, balance, body metabolism, and it can help the disabled rider gain agility and strength. Horse riding can also help with the movement of the riders legs and increase coordination in their muscle groups. In one study of therapeutic horseback riding, children with disabilities improve their posture, muscle tone, and weight-bearing abilities (Bliss). After trying therapeutic horseback riding, many patients become more outgoing. Beth Bliss once said that, “Studies show that autistic children often

Today there are many severe disability’s that effect individuals on a daily basis. Cerebral Palsy is a condition eliminates control over a person’s movements and the way the body works. The movement disorder is non curable but can be helped with appropriate assistive technology. In this paper you will learn more about Cerebral Palsy, broadening your knowledge on the disease and giving you a better understanding in your respected field of the rehabilitation.

Physical therapy has grown increasing more useful as the years’ progress and more is learned about the human body and its movements, interactions, and mechanisms. Someone may go to physical therapy for injury, recovery, in order to maintain function, or even due to a stroke and is trying to work on walking again. Patients of a physical therapist can include, but is not limited to, elderly, children, accident victims, athletes, those with conditions such as arthritis or fractures, etc. The possibilities are endless for potential physical therapy patients (Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences).