Effects of Hippotherapy in Children With Cerebral Palsy
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 Program, Special Education Program.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Cerebral Palsy, Congenital. Basic parameters: 7 years — 15 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
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- 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
Effects of Hippotherapy on Physical Function, Bladder and Bowel Symptoms, and Family Quality of Life in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Overview
Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent disorders affecting movement and posture due to non-progressive disturbances in the developing brain. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of hippotherapy on physical function, including balance, trunk control, posture, and handgrip strength, as well as bladder and bowel symptoms and family quality of life in children with cerebral palsy.
Detailed description
Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent disorders of movement and posture caused by non-progressive disturbances in the developing brain. Children with cerebral palsy may experience limitations in balance, trunk control, posture, mobility, and daily activities.
During hippotherapy, the rhythmic and multidirectional movements of the horse provide continuous sensory and motor stimulation, requiring the child to make repeated postural adjustments. These characteristics may support balance, postural control, muscle activation, and functional performance.
Although the effects of hippotherapy on motor function in children with cerebral palsy have been investigated, evidence regarding its combined effects on physical function, bladder and bowel symptoms, and family quality of life remains limited. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects of hippotherapy on physical function-including balance, trunk control, posture, and handgrip strength-as well as bladder and bowel symptoms and family quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. The findings may contribute to the literature and provide guidance for rehabilitation practices.
Interventions
- Other Hippotherapy Program
Participants will receive 30-minute hippotherapy sessions once weekly for 8 weeks in addition to their ongoing special education program. The program will include exercises targeting balance, postural control, trunk stabilization, coordination, muscle strength, upper extremity function, and sensory processing. - Other Special Education Program
Participants will continue their ongoing special education program throughout the 8-week study period. The program includes educational activities, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, proprioceptive activities, and sensory-based interventions according to the individual needs of the child.
Primary outcome measures
- Balance [Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention]
- Trunk Control [Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention]
- Posture [Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention]
- Handgrip Strength [Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention]
- Bladder and Bowel Symptoms [Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention]
- Familiy Quality of Life [Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Aged between 7 and 15 years
- Diagnosis of cerebral palsy confirmed by a specialist physician
- Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level I-III
- Ability to understand and follow basic verbal commands
- Ability to stand independently for at least 30 seconds
- No medical contraindications to participation in hippotherapy
- Voluntary participation in the study and written informed consent provided by a parent or legal representative
Exclusion criteria
- Presence of an active infection
- Bladder or bowel symptoms caused by an organic condition, such as -Hirschsprung disease or anorectal malformation
- Receipt of hippotherapy within the previous 12 months
- Uncontrolled epilepsy or a seizure within the previous 6 months
- Inability to comply with the assessment or treatment program because of severe behavioral problems
- Inability to attend the treatment program regularly
- Surgery affecting the spine, pelvis, or lower extremities within the previous 12 months
- Severe hip dislocation, atlantoaxial instability, uncontrolled scoliosis, or another orthopedic condition constituting a contraindication to hippotherapy
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
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
- Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University — Ankara
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07739680 · 61.2026fbu