Effect of hippotherapy and dynamic saddle seat training on gross motor ability in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy
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Abstract
Various techniques to improve gross motor function ability of children with cerebral palsy (CP) have been reported. Of them, hippotherapy and dynamic saddle seat riding were proved of good benefits. However, no studies compared effects of the two techniques in children with CP. This study aimed to compare effects of the 6 week-training of HP and DS on improvement of gross motor function in children with spastic CP. Ten children with CP were randomly assigned into either HP or DS group. All children’s gross motor function abilities were assessed prior to training, at 3rd and 6th week of training. Results revealed significant improvements of all dimensions of gross motor abilities of both groups. When comparing ability scores at 3rd week between the two groups, results revealed significant difference between walking ability scores of HP and DS groups. At 6th week of training, walking ability and total scores of the two groups were different. This study suggested that both techniques can improve gross motor abilities of children with spastic CP. However, hippotherapy showed better benefit on improvement of walking ability of the children.
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References
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