AIM: We investigated whether a hippotherapy simulator has influence on symmetric body weight bearing during gait in patients with stroke. METHOD:Stroke patients were divided into a control group (n = 10) that received conventional rehabilitation for 60 min/day, 5 times/week for 4 weeks and an experimental group (n = 10) that used a hippotherapy simulator for 15 min/day, 5 times/week for 4 weeks after conventional rehabilitation for 45 min/day. Temporospatial gait assessed using OptoGait and trunk muscles (abdominis and erector spinae on affected side) activity evaluated using surface electromyography during sit-to-stand and gait. Prior to starting the experiment, pre-testing was performed. At the end of the 4-week intervention, we performed post-testing. RESULT: Activation of the erector spinae in the experimental group was significantly increased compared to that in the control group (p < 0.01), whereas activation of the rectus abdominis decreased during sit-to-stand. Of the gait parameters, load response, single support, total double support, and pre-swing showed significant changes in the experimental group with a hippotherapy simulator compared to control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, activation of the erector spinae and rectus abdominis in gait correlate with changes of gait parameters including load response, single support, total double support, and pre-swing in experimental group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that use of a hippotherapy simulator to patients with stroke can improve asymmetric weight bearing by influencing trunk muscles.
RCT Entities:
AIM: We investigated whether a hippotherapy simulator has influence on symmetric body weight bearing during gait in patients with stroke. METHOD:Strokepatients were divided into a control group (n = 10) that received conventional rehabilitation for 60 min/day, 5 times/week for 4 weeks and an experimental group (n = 10) that used a hippotherapy simulator for 15 min/day, 5 times/week for 4 weeks after conventional rehabilitation for 45 min/day. Temporospatial gait assessed using OptoGait and trunk muscles (abdominis and erector spinae on affected side) activity evaluated using surface electromyography during sit-to-stand and gait. Prior to starting the experiment, pre-testing was performed. At the end of the 4-week intervention, we performed post-testing. RESULT: Activation of the erector spinae in the experimental group was significantly increased compared to that in the control group (p < 0.01), whereas activation of the rectus abdominis decreased during sit-to-stand. Of the gait parameters, load response, single support, total double support, and pre-swing showed significant changes in the experimental group with a hippotherapy simulator compared to control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, activation of the erector spinae and rectus abdominis in gait correlate with changes of gait parameters including load response, single support, total double support, and pre-swing in experimental group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that use of a hippotherapy simulator to patients with stroke can improve asymmetric weight bearing by influencing trunk muscles.
Authors: Petra Pohl; Gunnel Carlsson; Lina Bunketorp Käll; Michael Nilsson; Christian Blomstrand Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-09-20 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Juan G Dominguez-Romero; Assumpta Molina-Aroca; Jose A Moral-Munoz; Carlos Luque-Moreno; David Lucena-Anton Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-12-25 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Eleanor M Taylor; Noelle Robertson; Courtney J Lightfoot; Alice C Smith; Ceri R Jones Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-09 Impact factor: 3.390