Impact of Hippotherapy on Gross Motor Function and Quality of Life in Children with Bilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Open-Label Crossover Study

Ute Deutz; Nicole Heussen; Katharina Weigt-Usinger; Steffen Leiz; Christa Raabe; Tilman Polster; Steinbüchel Daniela; Christine Moll; Thomas Lücke; Ingeborg Krägeloh-Mann; Helmut Hollmann; Martin Häusler

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1635121

Neuropediatrics, Table of Contents

Neuropediatrics 2018; 49(03): 185-192
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1635121

Original Article

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Impact of Hippotherapy on Gross Motor Function and Quality of Life in Children with Bilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Open-Label Crossover Study

Ute Deutz^*

¹Division of Pediatric Neurology and Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

,

Nicole Heussen^*

²Department of Medical Statistics, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

³Center of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Sigmund Freud Private University, Vienna, Austria

,

Katharina Weigt-Usinger

⁴Department of Neuropaediatrics, University Children's Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany

,

Steffen Leiz

⁵Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Kliniken Dritter Orden GmbH, München, Germany

,

Christa Raabe

⁶Department of Paediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

,

Tilman Polster

⁷Pediatric Epilepsy Department, Bethel Epilepsy Centre, Bielefeld, Germany

,

Steinbüchel Daniela

⁸Kinderneurologisches Zentrum KiNZ, LVR-Klinik, Bonn, Germany

,

Christine Moll^§

¹Division of Pediatric Neurology and Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

,

Thomas Lücke

⁴Department of Neuropaediatrics, University Children's Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany

,

Ingeborg Krägeloh-Mann

⁶Department of Paediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

,

Helmut Hollmann

⁸Kinderneurologisches Zentrum KiNZ, LVR-Klinik, Bonn, Germany

,

Martin Häusler

¹Division of Pediatric Neurology and Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of hippotherapy on gross motor function (Gross Motor Function Measure [GMFM]-66, GMFM dimension E and D) and quality of life (Child Health Questionnaire [CHQ 28], KIDSCREEN-27 parental versions) in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Seventy-three children (age: 9.1 ± 3.3 years; male = 44; GMFCS levels II = 27; III = 17; IV = 29) were randomized to an early (n = 35) or late (n = 38) treatment group. Data from 66 probands were available for further analysis. Probands received hippotherapy once to twice weekly during a period of 16 to 20 weeks (mean: 17 treatments) in a crossover approach. Whereas no significant changes were found for total GMFM scores and quality of life parameters, a significant increase in GMFM dimension E was found. Children terminating the study early showed lower mean psychosocial quality of life scores than children who completed the whole study (CHQ-28 “psychosocial dimension”; KIDSCREEN-27 “mood and emotional dimension”). Our data are in line with previous reports and suggest that hippotherapy shows distinct therapeutic strengths with regard to promoting upright stand and gait in children with cerebral palsy. Children with higher psychosocial burden of disease may need special support to get access to and benefit from intensified physiotherapy programs.

Keywords

hippotherapy - gross motor function - cerebral palsy - quality of life - physiotherapy

Full Text

References

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Supplementary Material

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