Impact of serial gait analyses on long-term outcome of hippotherapy in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Tomoko Mutoh; Tatsushi Mutoh; Hirokazu Tsubone; Makoto Takada; Misato Doumura; Masayo Ihara; Hideo Shimomura; Yasuyuki Taki; Masahiro Ihara

doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.11.003

Impact of serial gait analyses on long-term outcome of hippotherapy in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 Feb:30:19-23. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.11.003. Epub 2017 Nov 8.

Authors

Tomoko Mutoh¹, Tatsushi Mutoh², Hirokazu Tsubone³, Makoto Takada⁴, Misato Doumura⁵, Masayo Ihara⁵, Hideo Shimomura⁶, Yasuyuki Taki⁶, Masahiro Ihara⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Graduate School of Psychology, Kobe Shoin Women's University, Kobe, Japan.
² Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan. Electronic address: tmutoh@tiara.ocn.ne.jp.
³ Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ LSI Medience Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
⁵ Holistic Betterment and Wellness Through Riding PIROUETTE, Utsunomiya, Japan.
⁶ Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
⁷ Teikyo University Faculty of Medical Technology, Utsunomiya, Japan.

PMID: 29389473
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.11.003

Abstract

The aim of this study was to obtain data of gait parameters on predicting long-term outcome of hippotherapy. In 20 participants (4-19 years; GMFCS levels I to III) with cerebral palsy (CP), gait and balance abilities were examined after 10-m walking test using a portable motion recorder. Hippotherapy was associated with increased Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-66 at 1 year from the baseline (P < 0.001). Hippotherapy increased stride length, walking speed, and mean acceleration and decreased horizontal/vertical displacement ratio over time (P < 0.05). Stride length and mean acceleration at 6 weeks predicted the elevation of GMFM-66 score. These data suggest that 1-year outcome of hippotherapy on motor and balance functions can be assessed from the early phase by serial monitoring of the gait parameters.

Keywords: Animal-assisted therapy; Cerebral palsy; Gait analysis; Hippotherapy; Outcome; Rehabilitation.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Cerebral Palsy / physiopathology
Cerebral Palsy / therapy*
Child
Equine-Assisted Therapy*
Female
Gait*
Humans
Male
Postural Balance
Treatment Outcome
Walking / physiology*