How Hippotherapy Is Helping Improve Individuals with Asd
To help in the improvement of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) many families are turning toward a physical, occupational, and speech and language medical therapy called Hippotherapy. This form of therapy might sound like it involves the Hippopotamus, however it actually involves the use of horses; the root word “hippo” means horse in Latin. Hippotherapy utilizes an equine’s multidimensional movement and its dynamic base of support as a part of an integrated intervention program to achieve functional outcomes in patients with ASD. ASD is a bio-neurological developmental disability which impacts the normal development of the brain and means that they have difficulty performing functional daily living skills like feeding themselves, walking, or making eye contact (National Autism Association, 2012). Physical, occupational, and speech and language therapists can utilize the horse and its movement as an aid to help in these areas.
Physical therapists are using Hippotherapy to help individuals with ASD improve their fine and gross motor controls (PATH International, 2012). By utilizing the horse’s movement along with other standard physical intervention strategies, Hippotherapy acknowledges and promotes functional outcomes in skill areas related to an individual’s fine motor control needs like grasping small objects or fastening buckles (American Hippotherapy Association, 2010). The physical therapist would have the individual hold the reins correctly in each hand and steer the horse. Holding the reins correctly means the individual must take a rein in each hand, make a thumbs-up fist around the rein, put their thumb down on top of the rein, and finally flip their pinky around the rein so that the rein is between their pinky and ring finger. By having to not only hold the reins, but hold them correctly, the individual is improving the fine motor control in their hands. Add in having to steer the horse, the individual must really concentrate on keeping their
Physical therapists are using Hippotherapy to help individuals with ASD improve their fine and gross motor controls (PATH International, 2012). By utilizing the horse’s movement along with other standard physical intervention strategies, Hippotherapy acknowledges and promotes functional outcomes in skill areas related to an individual’s fine motor control needs like grasping small objects or fastening buckles (American Hippotherapy Association, 2010). The physical therapist would have the individual hold the reins correctly in each hand and steer the horse. Holding the reins correctly means the individual must take a rein in each hand, make a thumbs-up fist around the rein, put their thumb down on top of the rein, and finally flip their pinky around the rein so that the rein is between their pinky and ring finger. By having to not only hold the reins, but hold them correctly, the individual is improving the fine motor control in their hands. Add in having to steer the horse, the individual must really concentrate on keeping their
References: Dingman, A. (2008). Hoof Prints: Equine Therapy for Autistic Children. Encounter, 21(4), 11-13. Bass, M., Duchowny, C., & Llabre, M. (2009). The effect of therapeutic horseback riding on social functioning in children with autism. Journal Of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 39(9), 1261-1267. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0734-3 Memishevikj, H. & Hodzhikj, S. (2010). The Effects of Equine-Assisted Therapy In Improving The Psychosocial Functioning of Children With Autism. Journal Of Special Education & Rehabilitation, (3/4), 57-67. The American Hippotherapy Association, Inc. (2010). American Hippotherapy Association. Retrieved from http://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org National Autism Association. (2012). National Autism Association. Retrieved from http://nationalautismassociation.org Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. (2012). PATH International. Retrieved from http://www.pathintl.org