Effects of hippotherapy on gross motor activities and function performance of children with cerebral palsy: a pilot study

Dilip G; Sathya Siva; Boopathy D; Kingsley J; Prathap Suganthirababu

doi:10.15391/prrht.2025-10(3).02

Authors

Dilip G Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6807-984X
Sathya Siva Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4253-4030
Boopathy D Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6076-8802
Kingsley J Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2545-9654
Prathap Suganthirababu Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1419-266X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15391/prrht.2025-10(3).02

Keywords:

Cerebral palsy, Convention therapy, Gross motor, Hippotherapy, Paediatrics

Abstract

Purpose. Cerebral palsy a neurological condition affecting movement, postural abnormalities and cognitive issues affects 8,000-10,000 children annually. Hippotherapy enhances motor function and gross motor function in children. This study looked at how hippotherapy affected children with cerebral palsy’s functional performance and gross motor function.

Material & Methods. In this study, 34 children between the ages of 3 and 12 were split into two groups: the conventional group and the experimental group. While the experimental group received hippotherapy for two sessions each week for eight weeks, the conventional group received two sessions of traditional physical therapy. The children's performance was measured using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) 66 and Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory both before and after the 8-week intervention.

Results. In contrast to conventional physical therapy the study found that hippotherapy significantly improved functional performance and gross motor ability in children with cerebral palsy. Following the intervention, the experimental group had a substantial rise in their GMFM-66 and PEDI scores.

Conclusions. Hippotherapy had proven to be an effective treatment for children with cerebral palsy. Enhancing gross motor function and functional performance. According to the results hippotherapy can be used in rehabilitation programmes to help children with cerebral palsy develop their motor skills fully. There were no adverse events during the intervention.

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