Muscle Spasticity Reduction in Children With Cerebral Palsy by Means of Hippotherapy

University of Cadiz

Status: Completed

Conditions: Spasticity, Muscle; Cerebral Palsy, Spastic; Neuromuscular Diseases in Children

Treatments: Other: Hippotherapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03212846

CTS671

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to evaluate if a intervention with hippotherapy will improve spasticity for children ages 3-14 who have cerebral palsy. The hip aductors spasticity will be measured using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The intervention will be performed in addition to traditional treatment.

Full description

The main aim of the present study is to determine the effects of hippotherapy on the hip aductors spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Furthermore, as a secondary objective is to evaluate the changes in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) after intervention in children ages 3-14.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 3 to 14 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Primor diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy
• Children aged 3-14

Exclusion criteria

• Children with recent injection of botulinium toxin, surgery, or any planned medical or surgical interventions.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Treatment group

Experimental group

Description:

Children will receive hippotherapy by a licensed physical therapist. Before riding, stretching and warming exercises of the adductor muscles will be performed. Later, the patient will be seated astride with the therapist behind. In any case, the participant had no control of the horse. Therapist will be responsible for correctly positioning the subject on the horse, but no position changes or active intervention of the subject with the therapist will be made. This positioning consists on achieving the optimal body alignment with neutral pelvis.

Treatment:

Other: Hippotherapy

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Children will receive the conventional treatment, based on physiotherapy related techniques, such as neurodevelopmental treatment (twice a week).