Hippotherapy to Improve the Balance of Children With Movement Disorders - Full Text View

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine if adding hippotherapy treatment will improve balance for children ages 5-17 who have disabilities such as cerebral palsy and down syndrome. We also want to find out if by improving their balance the children increase their participation in age appropriate activities.

Condition	Intervention
Neuromuscular Diseases Cerebral Palsy Down Syndrome Autism Developmental Coordination Disorder	Other: Hippotherapy

Study Type:	Interventional
Study Design:	Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor) Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title:	Hippotherapy to Improve Balance Deficits in a Cohort of Children With Movement Disorders: A Pilot Study

Resource links provided by NLM:

Genetics Home Reference related topics: Down syndrome tetrasomy 18p

MedlinePlus related topics: Autism Cerebral Palsy Down Syndrome Movement Disorders Neuromuscular Disorders Paralysis

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by Central Michigan University:

Primary Outcome Measures:

Pediatric Balance Scale [ Time Frame: 8-9 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) is a standardized 14 item test of various component activities related to balance. It is a modified child version of the adult Berg Balance Scale. The PBS has high total score test-retest reliability of ICC (3,1) =0.998, as well as good interrater reliability (ICC(3,1) = 0.997).1

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Activities Scale for Kids [ Time Frame: 8-9 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Activities Scale for Kids - Participation (ASKp) is a self-administered 30 item questionaire that measures the impact of children's disability to overall function and participation within relevant environments. It correlates well with parent reports on the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (r=0.81, p<0.000) and clinician observations of children's function (ICC=0.92, p<0.000).

Enrollment:	16
Study Start Date:	September 2006
Study Completion Date:	December 2007
Primary Completion Date:	December 2007 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Arms	Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Treatment group Children between 5-17 years who have balance deficits related to any movement disorder (preferably neuromuscular)	Other: Hippotherapy Children will receive treatment by a licensed physical therapist using hippotherapy as the treatment strategy. This includes sitting on a horse who's movement is controlled by a horse leader, with the PT directing the movements required of the horse, as well as supplying supplemental cues to the participant. Alternative positions (such as sitting backward and sideways) may also be used during the treatment session.

Arms

Assigned Interventions

Experimental: Treatment group

Children between 5-17 years who have balance deficits related to any movement disorder (preferably neuromuscular)

Other: Hippotherapy

Children will receive treatment by a licensed physical therapist using hippotherapy as the treatment strategy. This includes sitting on a horse who's movement is controlled by a horse leader, with the PT directing the movements required of the horse, as well as supplying supplemental cues to the participant. Alternative positions (such as sitting backward and sideways) may also be used during the treatment session.

Detailed Description:

The primary purpose of this study is to determine the effects of hippotherapy on the balance of children with developmental disorders that cause mild to moderate balance problems. The secondary purpose is to determine if the use of hippotherapy also improves perceived functional abilities and thus quality of life as measured by the pediatric balance scale and Activities Scale for Kids (respectively)

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:	5 Years to 17 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:	Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

between the ages of 5 and 17
have a neuromuscular diagnosis or confirmed difficulties with balance
be able to stand 4 seconds without an assistive device
be able to follow testing instructions
must be under 250 pounds
be able to attend a minimum 10/12 sessions.

Exclusion Criteria:

any compounding orthopedic or medical condition not related to the primary developmental diagnosis.
previous hippotherapy intervention or therapeutic riding experience
allergies or aversion to horses.
refusal of parents to sign the therapeutic riding center's liability release form
any new treatments (includes therapies, drugs, or other complementary treatments) within one month of the start of the study or plans for new treatments during the intervention period
lack of a physician referral for physical therapy

Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01313325

Locations

United States, Michigan
CHUM Therapeutic Riding Center
Dansville, Michigan, United States, 48854

Sponsors and Collaborators

Central Michigan University

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Debbie J Silkwood-Sherer, PT, DHS

Central Michigan University

More Information

Additional Information:

Non profit organization that provides education, standards, terminology for physical, occupational and speech language pathologists using hippotherapy as part of their practice. This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

Publications:

Silkwood-Sherer D. Hippotherapy as an Intervention to Improve Postural Control of Children with Movement Disorders. Dev Med Child Neurol 51(S5):18-19, 2009 [abstract]

McGibbon NH, Benda W, Duncan BR, Silkwood-Sherer D. Immediate and long-term effects of hippotherapy on symmetry of adductor muscle activity and functional ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 Jun;90(6):966-74.

Casady RL, Nichols-Larsen DS. The effect of hippotherapy on ten children with cerebral palsy. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2004 Fall;16(3):165-72.

Benda W, McGibbon NH, Grant KL. Improvements in muscle symmetry in children with cerebral palsy after equine-assisted therapy (hippotherapy). J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Dec;9(6):817-25.

Silkwood-Sherer D, Warmbier H. Effects of hippotherapy on postural stability, in persons with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2007 Jun;31(2):77-84.

Additional publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

Silkwood-Sherer DJ, Killian CB, Long TM, Martin KS. Hippotherapy--an intervention to habilitate balance deficits in children with movement disorders: a clinical trial. Phys Ther. 2012 May;92(5):707-17. Epub 2012 Jan 12.

Responsible Party:	Dr. Debbie Silkwood-Sherer, Central Michigan University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT01313325 History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers:	09/14/2006
Study First Received:	March 9, 2011
Last Updated:	March 10, 2011
Health Authority:	United States: Institutional Review Board

Keywords provided by Central Michigan University:

hippotherapy
neuromuscular disorders
balance deficits
participation

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Autistic Disorder
Cerebral Palsy
Motor Skills Disorders
Down Syndrome
Movement Disorders
Neuromuscular Diseases
Ataxia
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive
Mental Disorders Diagnosed in Childhood
Mental Disorders
Brain Damage, Chronic
Brain Diseases

Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Mental Retardation
Neurobehavioral Manifestations
Neurologic Manifestations
Abnormalities, Multiple
Congenital Abnormalities
Chromosome Disorders
Genetic Diseases, Inborn
Dyskinesias
Signs and Symptoms

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 21, 2013

Hippotherapy to Improve the Balance of Children With Movement Disorders (HPOT)