Impact of hippotherapy on the life habits of children with disabilities: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose

The aim was to document the effects of hippotherapy on the 12 life habits of children with various disabilities.

Materials and methods

A systematic review using PRISMA guidelines was conducted to identify relevant studies. Five databases were consulted. Inclusion criteria were: 2-to-18 years old; therapy provided by a PT, OT or SLP/SLT; variables relevant to life habits as defined by the Human Development Model – Disability Creation Process. Quality was analyzed using a quantitative studies critical review form developed by the McMaster University Occupational Therapy Evidence-Based Practice Research Group. Levels of evidence were evaluated using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine guidelines.

Results

The investigations’ overall quality ratings were excellent (n = 5 studies), acceptable (n = 10) and poor (n = 8); the evidence levels were 2/high (n = 2), 3/moderate (n = 3) and 4/low (n = 18). This systematic review suggests an observable connection between hippotherapy and improvements in three habits (mobility, communication, interpersonal relationships).

Conclusion

The findings provide support for hippotherapy as a therapy with a positive impact on three categories of life habits. Further research is warranted for education, housing, nutrition, personal care and recreation (only 3 studies), as well as community and spiritual life, employment, physical fitness and psychological well-being and responsibility (no studies).

Implications for rehabilitation

• Occupational, physical and speech language therapists must continue to intervene with children with developmental delays related to various diagnoses as demonstrated by 15 studies involving hippotherapy rated from acceptable to excellent quality.

• Given improvements, therapists should pursue hippotherapy in mobility, communication, interpersonal relationships, as established specifically by five studies with moderate to high evidence.

• Given three studies in hippotherapy, therapists are encouraged to document improvement in other life habits such as education, housing, nutrition, personal care and recreation.

Keywords:

• Hippotherapy
• equine assisted therapy
• life habits
• social participation
• pediatrics

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge Pr. Marie-Ève Lamontagne for the methodological comments as reviewer of the Masters thesis of the first author.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The first author was supported by a Masters scholarship from the Chair in Cerebral Palsy of Université Laval and the Faculty of Medicine (Université Laval).