Trial Examines Short-term Effects of Hippotherapy on Fascia Properties and Quality of Life in Children With CP.
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Hippotherapy 1x/week, Hippotherapy 2x/week.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Cerebral Palsy (CP), Rehabilitation, Motor Coordination or Function, Hippotherapy. Basic parameters: 4 years — 12 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Slovenia
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
The Effects of Hippotherapy on Viscoelastic Properties of Thoracolumbar Fascia and Quality of Life in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy and Their Parents/Caregivers
Overview
The effects of hippotherapy on gross motor function, balance, and spasticity in children with cerebral palsy (CP) are well-documented, but its impact on the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) remains unexplored area to date. This research protocol aims to investigate the short-term effects of hippotherapy on the viscoelastic and biomechanical properties of the TLF and quality of life (QoL) in children with spastic CP and their parents/caregivers. A 4-week randomized control trial will compare the effects of once-weekly and twice-weekly hippotherapy sessions to a control group without intervention. The study will assess the viscoelastic and biomechanical properties of the TLF using the MyotonPRO device in children with spastic CP aged 4-12 years. Myotonometer parameters, including oscillation frequency, stiffness, logarithmic decrement, stress relaxation, and creep, will be analyzed before, during, and after the intervention. Functional tests, such as the 10-meter walk test (comfortable and fast walking), cadence, one-leg stance test (eyes open and closed), and functional reach test (forward and lateral), will also be monitored. QoL will be assessed using the CP QOL-Child questionnaire. The primary outcomes will include changes in myotonometer parameters, their correlation with functional tests, and differences between intervention groups. Secondary outcomes will explore whether hippotherapy impacts QoL and the relationship between QoL domains and TLF properties. Results will evaluate whether twice-weekly therapy yields statistically significant differences in the specified parameters compared once-weekly sessions and contribute to understanding hippotherapy's mechanisms, supporting more individualized therapies to improve QoL for children with CP and their families.
Interventions
- Other Hippotherapy 1x/week
This group will perform hippotherapy once per week for 12 weeks - Other Hippotherapy 2x/week
This group will perform hippotherapy twice per week for 12 weeks
Primary outcome measures
- Change in viscoelastic properties in TLF (5 measurable parameters) [Time frame: 1. baseline (before hippotherapy starts): all groups 2. in 2 weeks (midway through the therapy): all groups 3. in 4 weeks (at the end of hippotherapy): all groups 4. one day after the completion of the 4-week hippotherapy: only experimental groups]
- Functional tests (7 measurable parameters) [Time frame: 1. baseline (before hippotherapy starts): all groups 2. in 2 weeks (midway through the therapy): all groups 3. in 4 weeks (at the end of hippotherapy): all groups 4. one day after the completion of the 4-week hippotherapy: only experimental groups]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Quality of life of children and Quality of live of their parents/caregivers [Time frame: 1. baseline (before hippotherapy starts) 2. in 4 weeks (at the end of hippotherapy)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- classified as level II or III according to the GMFCS, and who, according to the assessment of a specialist physician, are indicated for hippotherapy aged between 4 and 12 years
- who are undergoing neurophysiotherapeutic treatment
- who have not undergone orthopedic surgery in the last six months and do not have uncontrolled epilepsy
- are willing to be randomly assigned to any group (or whose parents/caregiver's consent)
- understand instructions in Slovene and are willing to participate in the study for four weeks (or whose parents/ caregiver's consent)
- without skin diseases, scars, or wounds on the examined part of the back
Exclusion criteria
- who have previously participated in a hippotherapy program
- with a known and diagnosed psychiatric disorder for which hippotherapy is contraindicated
- with limitations due to hearing or visual impairment
- with painful adductor contractures, painful subluxation, or hip dislocation are not willing to be randomly assigned to any group (or whose parents/caregiver's consent)
- who are afraid of horses or have an allergy to horsehair
- with skin diseases, scars, or wounds on the examined part of the back
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
Study locations
Slovenia · 1 center
- Konjeniški zavod Epona — Novo Mesto
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07134582 · HYPPOTER25