Can Individuals with Down Syndrome Benefit from Hippotherapy? An Exploratory Study on Gait and Balance

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate whether a hippotherapy protocol may influence balance and gait in patients with Down Syndrome (DS).

Methods: Fifteen male patients affected by DS underwent a 6-month hippotherapy protocol. Stabilometric, baropodometric, and gait assessments were performed at baseline (T₀) and at the end of the treatment (T₁).

Results: At baseline, DS patients showed a low bilateral hind foot pressure percentage at the baropodometric analysis, a high center of pressure area in the closed-eye condition, a high center of pressure sway in open- and closed-eyes recordings, a high medio-lateral and antero-posterior velocity oscillations in the closed eye condition, and a reduced step-length and velocity. After the 6-month, hippotherapy protocol, DS patients had a significant bilateral higher hindfoot pressure percentage. The stabilometric analysis revealed a lower center of pressure area in the closed-eye condition, and a significantly reduced center of pressure sway in open- and closed-eyes recordings. In addition, DS patients showed lower medio-lateral and antero-posterior velocity oscillations in the closed eye condition. Finally, hippotherapy significantly improved step length and velocity.

Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrates that hippotherapy determines functional improvement in gait speed, width, bilateral symmetry, and balance in DS.

KEYWORDS:

• Down syndrome
• stabilometric and baropodometric assessment
• gait analysis
• hippotherapy

Acknowledgments

We thank the T.H.E.S. riding school of Milazzo, the Italian Association of Down Syndrome – section of Milazzo (Italy), the patients and their families for the active cooperation.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest