Jodi L Lindroth1, Jessica L Sullivan2, Debbie Silkwood-Sherer3. 1. a Menominee Tribal Clinic , Keshena , WI , USA . 2. b MidMichigan Medical Center, Harrison , MI , USA , and. 3. c Graduate Program in Physical Therapy, Central Michigan University , Mt. Pleasant, MI , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This case-series study aimed to determine if there were observable changes in sensory processing for postural control in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) following physical therapy using hippotherapy (HPOT), or changes in balance and functional gait. DESIGN: This pre-test non-randomized design study, with follow-up assessment at 6 weeks, included two females and one male (age range 37-60 years) with diagnoses of relapse-remitting or progressive MS. The intervention consisted of twelve 40-min physical therapy sessions which included HPOT twice a week for 6 weeks. Sensory organization and balance were assessed by the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Gait was assessed using the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA). RESULTS: Following the intervention period, all three participants showed improvements in SOT (range 1-8 points), BBS (range 2-6 points), and FGA (average 4 points) scores. These improvements were maintained or continued to improve at follow-up assessment. Two of the three participants no longer over-relied on vision and/or somatosensory information as the primary sensory input for postural control, suggesting improved use of sensory information for balance. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that HPOT may be a beneficial physical therapy treatment strategy to improve balance, functional gait, and enhance how some individuals with MS process sensory cues for postural control. Randomized clinical trials will be necessary to validate results of this study.
OBJECTIVE: This case-series study aimed to determine if there were observable changes in sensory processing for postural control in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) following physical therapy using hippotherapy (HPOT), or changes in balance and functional gait. DESIGN: This pre-test non-randomized design study, with follow-up assessment at 6 weeks, included two females and one male (age range 37-60 years) with diagnoses of relapse-remitting or progressive MS. The intervention consisted of twelve 40-min physical therapy sessions which included HPOT twice a week for 6 weeks. Sensory organization and balance were assessed by the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Gait was assessed using the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA). RESULTS: Following the intervention period, all three participants showed improvements in SOT (range 1-8 points), BBS (range 2-6 points), and FGA (average 4 points) scores. These improvements were maintained or continued to improve at follow-up assessment. Two of the three participants no longer over-relied on vision and/or somatosensory information as the primary sensory input for postural control, suggesting improved use of sensory information for balance. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that HPOT may be a beneficial physical therapy treatment strategy to improve balance, functional gait, and enhance how some individuals with MS process sensory cues for postural control. Randomized clinical trials will be necessary to validate results of this study.
Authors: Scott D Newsome; Philip J Aliotta; Jacquelyn Bainbridge; Susan E Bennett; Gary Cutter; Kaylan Fenton; Fred Lublin; Dorothy Northrop; David Rintell; Bryan D Walker; Megan Weigel; Kathleen Zackowski; David E Jones Journal: Int J MS Care Date: 2017 Jan-Feb
Authors: Ana Myriam Lavín-Pérez; Daniel Collado-Mateo; Alejandro Caña-Pino; Santos Villafaina; Jose Alberto Parraca; María Dolores Apolo-Arenas Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2022-04-27 Impact factor: 2.650