Abstract

Zootherapy has been introduced in recent years as an adjunct approach to traditional physiotherapy in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). Hippotherapy is less popular in Poland compared to other European countries or the USA, with few reports of investigations carried out in accordance with the EBM paradigm. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of hippotherapy in comprehensive rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy.The study involved 40 cerebrally palsied children who were randomly divided into two equal-sized groups (A and B). Both groups received home-based rehabilitation according to the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) method. Group A additionally received hippotherapy. The children’s motor function was determined using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM).In Group A was 0.02 for ChP=5.226, 1 df. The parameter determined in the study exceeded this critical value, thus allowing the conclusion that the effect of home-based rehabilitation combined with hippotherapy on overall health improvement was statistically significant (p<0.05). In Group B, the right-tailed critical value (p) was 0.429 for Chi2=0.625, 1 df. The parameter determined in the study did not exceed the critical value, thus not allowing the statement that home-based rehabilitation had a significant effect on overall health improvement.1. The study shows significantly better results of rehabilitation in children treated with combination of PNF and hippotherapy. 2. The results indicate the need for randomized prospective studies involving larger test groups.

Key words:

Cerebral Palsy, Rehabilitation, hippotherapy, physiotherapy