Essay On Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy? What does that mean? Is that some form of counseling for distraught hippos? Although by the sound of its name hippotherapy may suggest it has something to do with hippopotamuses, “hippos” is Greek for horse. Hippotherapy means “therapy with the help of a horse” (Granados, 191). The means of using a horse to improve health was first recognized in ancient Greece. The rehabilitating abilities of the natural rhythm of a horses gait was first noted by Hippocrates (Granados, 191). Using horses for rehabilitation has been used throughout history since then, but hippotherapy today is considered an experimental therapy due to the overall lack of research. However, the research that has been done shows some significant benefits for children
with disabilities. Often hippotherapy is confused with therapeutic riding and equine-facilitated therapy. Therapeutic riding is operated by a riding instructor and teaches children with disabilities how to ride and work with horses. Equine-facilitated therapy views the horse as a co-therapist to improve well-being and accomplish behavioral goals. Hippotherapy is operated by a rehabilitation therapist such as an occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech pathologist. The horse is used as a tool to systematically accomplish therapeutic goals (Lepore, 2; Silkwood-Sherer, 708). A hippotherapy session involves a small team of people. This team includes a person leading the horse, the client, a person on either side of the client while he or she is riding (these people are referred to as sidewalkers), and a therapist. Hippotherapy utilizes the dynamic three dimensional movement of a horse to passively manipulate the body of the client while he or she is riding the horse sitting forwards or backwards, lying prone or supine. Hippotherapy also incorporates therapeutic activities into the session instead of just in walking circles on a horse. Some activities include catching and throwing a ball, reaching and stretching to grab items, and pinning things in the horse’s mane. This is used to achieve physical, psychological, cognitive, behavioral, educational, and social goals. Hippotherapy is used to treat a very broad amount of disabilities in children including: Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, developmental delays, and muscular dystrophy (Granados, 192; Hession, 22; Lepore, 3). Although hippotherapy is considered an experimental therapy, research suggests that it provides significant improvement to the physical, psychological, and social abilities of children with disabilities. There are numerous physical benefits to hippotherapy. Some of the most prominent benefits include postural control, core strength and stability. The movement of the horse strengthens muscles and improves stability (Granados, 192; Hession, 21; Lepore, 2; Silkwood-Sherer, 713). The smooth walk of a horse relaxes hypertonic muscles, meaning short, tight muscles caused by the muscles being chronically tense. This relaxation is caused by the slow, dynamic, rhythmic movement and heat from the horse. The high-impact trot of a horse strengthens hypotonic muscles, or muscles with low tone, because it requires the rider to engage several muscle groups simultaneously in order to stay seated on the horse. The walking gait of the horse manipulates the patient’s pelvis in a way that mirrors normal human walking, this can put the client through the motions of walking without any actual weight-bearing. This can prepare muscles for walking in patients who are currently unable to walk, or improve walking ability in those who require assistance in walking. Through the large amounts of sensory input provided, hippotherapy stimulates the vestibular system, which creates a sense of balance and spatial orientation, improves proprioception, and body awareness (Granados; Lepore, 2; Silkwood-Sherer). Research has also shown statistically significant improvement in balance and function after 45 minute hippotherapy sessions twice a week for six weeks (Silkwood-Sherer, 713). Hippotherapy has also been shown to increase plasticity, a muscles ability to change and grow, and decrease spasticity, inability to control tight and stiff muscles. The steady, rhythmic movement and heat of the horse can increase flexibility. It also increases circulation, metabolism, and improves respiration (Grenados, Hession). Along with all the physical benefits of hippotherapy, research shows there are also a vast amount of social, cognitive, and behavioral skill benefits as well. “By affecting multiple systems such as the sensory, muscular, skeletal, limbic, vestibular, and ocular systems simultaneously, hippotherapy leads to psychologic, social, and educational benefits” (Grenados, 194) The rhythm of the horses gait improves focus, as well as releases endorphins that promote over all well-being. It has shown to decrease stress, tension, and anxiety. (Grenados,194; Lepore, 2) Working with horses as a means to accomplish therapeutic goals instead of traditional therapy methods such as exercises or flash cards increases the motivation of children to actively participate in therapy. The dynamic movement of the horse as well as the variety of environmental stimuli increases alertness and exploratory behavior that many children don’t get in traditional therapy settings. Working with horses has also shown to improve self-confidence, promote trust, and increase verbal and nonverbal communication (Grenados; Hession).
“An important factor is that horses are nonverbal. This gives the rider the freedom to express himself or herself fully without fear of objection or criticism” (Grenados, 195). Hippotherapy provides opportunities to share stories and experiences with others as well as heavy sensory input that can help regulate clients, because of this it has been shown to increase social and academic development, language skills, memory, attention span, and cognition (Grenados; Hession; Lepore, 3). The research that has been done on the use of hippotherapy provides strong evidence that hippotherapy is an effective approach to treat a wide variety of therapeutic goals in children with various mental and physical disabilities. Hippotherapy has shown to be affective through its ability to activate multiple systems throughout the body at once. There is research that supports hippotherapy can treat several of a rider’s therapeutic goals simultaneously due to its wide-range of benefits created by the horse’s dynamic, rhythmic motion, and proves to be a holistic approach to rehabilitation
therapy.