The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy
PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy in children with Cerebral Palsy, in terms of gross motor function, performance, and spasticity as well as whether this improvement can be maintained for 2 months after the end of the intervention.MethodsChildren with Cerebral Palsy participa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1203481/full |
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| author | Alexandra N. Stergiou Alexandra N. Stergiou Sanna Mattila-Rautiainen Dimitrios N. Varvarousis Meropi Tzoufi Panagiota Plyta Panagiota Plyta Alexandros Beris Avraam Ploumis |
| author_facet | Alexandra N. Stergiou Alexandra N. Stergiou Sanna Mattila-Rautiainen Dimitrios N. Varvarousis Meropi Tzoufi Panagiota Plyta Panagiota Plyta Alexandros Beris Avraam Ploumis |
| author_sort | Alexandra N. Stergiou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy in children with Cerebral Palsy, in terms of gross motor function, performance, and spasticity as well as whether this improvement can be maintained for 2 months after the end of the intervention.MethodsChildren with Cerebral Palsy participated in this prospective cohort study. The study lasted for 28 weeks, of which the equine assisted therapy lasted 12 weeks taking place once a week for 30 min. Repeated measures within the subject design were used for the evaluation of each child’s physical performance and mental capacity consisting of six measurements: Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), Gross Motor Performance Measure (GMPM), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC III).ResultsStatistically significant improvements were achieved for 31 children in Gross Motor Function Measure and all its subcategories (p < 0.005), also in total Gross Motor Performance Measure and all subcategories (p < 0.005). These Gross Motor Function Measure results remained consistent for 2 months after the last session of the intervention. Regarding spasticity, although an improving trend was seen, this was not found to be statistically significant.Conclusion and implicationsEquine Assisted Therapy improves motor ability (qualitatively and quantitatively) in children with Cerebral Palsy, with clinical significance in gross motor function. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:40:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d9c49c23b84c419b9b41e6c2b8d9d38e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:40:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-d9c49c23b84c419b9b41e6c2b8d9d38e2023-08-16T09:29:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-08-011010.3389/fvets.2023.12034811203481The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral PalsyAlexandra N. Stergiou0Alexandra N. Stergiou1Sanna Mattila-Rautiainen2Dimitrios N. Varvarousis3Meropi Tzoufi4Panagiota Plyta5Panagiota Plyta6Alexandros Beris7Avraam Ploumis8Division of Surgery, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, GreeceIoannina Therapeutic Riding Center, Ioannina, GreeceSports and Exercise Medicine, Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, FinlandDepartment of Anatomy, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, GreeceDivision of Child’s Health, Department of Paediatrics, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, GreeceDivision of Surgery, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, GreeceIoannina Therapeutic Riding Center, Ioannina, GreeceDivision of Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, GreeceDivision of Surgery, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, GreecePurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy in children with Cerebral Palsy, in terms of gross motor function, performance, and spasticity as well as whether this improvement can be maintained for 2 months after the end of the intervention.MethodsChildren with Cerebral Palsy participated in this prospective cohort study. The study lasted for 28 weeks, of which the equine assisted therapy lasted 12 weeks taking place once a week for 30 min. Repeated measures within the subject design were used for the evaluation of each child’s physical performance and mental capacity consisting of six measurements: Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), Gross Motor Performance Measure (GMPM), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC III).ResultsStatistically significant improvements were achieved for 31 children in Gross Motor Function Measure and all its subcategories (p < 0.005), also in total Gross Motor Performance Measure and all subcategories (p < 0.005). These Gross Motor Function Measure results remained consistent for 2 months after the last session of the intervention. Regarding spasticity, although an improving trend was seen, this was not found to be statistically significant.Conclusion and implicationsEquine Assisted Therapy improves motor ability (qualitatively and quantitatively) in children with Cerebral Palsy, with clinical significance in gross motor function.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1203481/fullCerebral Palsyequine assisted therapiesgross motor functiongross motor performancespasticity |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra N. Stergiou Alexandra N. Stergiou Sanna Mattila-Rautiainen Dimitrios N. Varvarousis Meropi Tzoufi Panagiota Plyta Panagiota Plyta Alexandros Beris Avraam Ploumis The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy Frontiers in Veterinary Science Cerebral Palsy equine assisted therapies gross motor function gross motor performance spasticity |
| title | The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy |
| title_full | The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy |
| title_fullStr | The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy |
| title_short | The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy |
| title_sort | efficacy of equine assisted therapy intervention in gross motor function performance and spasticity in children with cerebral palsy |
| topic | Cerebral Palsy equine assisted therapies gross motor function gross motor performance spasticity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1203481/full |
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