Physical therapy is the discipline most closely associated with hippotherapy. Let’s now look at how a PT may use hippotherapy as a treatment strategy. The therapist uses the horses’ movement to facilitate normal movement patterns, increase strength and range of motion in the client. The movement of the horse creates a unique interactive environment where the whole body is interacting with the horses’ movement. PTs use the walking patterns of the horse to challenge and strengthen core muscles through the trunk and back. Use of hippotherapy as a treatment strategy provides a fun and motivating environment for the client to perform many traditional physical therapy exercises to improve strength and flexibility. Through repetitive and graded rhythmical movement, the client is given the opportunity to experience more normal movement patterns with subsequent gains in posture, balance, endurance and, ultimately, gait.
Check back soon for our PT interviews, “ask the expert” and information on evaluations, theory and treatment in the equine assisted therapy environment.