Efficacy of hippotherapy simulator exercise program in patients with stroke: a randomized single-blind clinical trial

ABSTRACT

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hippotherapy simulator on balance, postural control, mobility, functional capacity and independence level in people with stroke.

Methods

This study involved 26 people with stroke aged 18–65, who were randomly assigned to a Hippotherapy Simulator Group (HSG; n = 13) and a Conventional Exercise Group (CEG; n = 13). Patients underwent assessments using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PAS-S), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI), 2-Minute Walking Test (2-MWT), and Barthel Daily Living Activity Index (BI) to evaluate balance, postural control, mobility, functional capacity, and independence before and after treatment. In the HSG, participants received 30 sessions of conventional exercises and hippotherapy simulator – a mechanical and robotic equipment with a dynamic saddle simulating horse movement – exercises over 6 weeks. Meanwhile, the CEG underwent 30 sessions of conventional exercises alone for 6 weeks.

Results

In the post-therapy evaluation between groups, BBS (p = 0.004) and 2-MWT (p < 0.001) scores were higher in HSG compared to CEG. However, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of PAS-S, RMI, TUG and BI scores (p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences were found between BBS, PAS-S, RMI, TUG, BI and 2-MWT scores before and after treatment in both groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Hippotherapy simulator can be added to conventional exercises to improve balance and functional capacity in people with stroke.

KEYWORDS:

• Hippotherapy
• cerebrovascular diseases
• stroke rehabilitation
• balance
• exercise

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Marmara University, Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (SAG-C-YLP-080519-0183). These funds were used primarily used for the purchasing of equipment. This fund provider had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.