Junes Informal Topic and sites for your edification -- Brightest Blessings
- Trisha
What is Hippotherapy?
Hippotherapy is a specialized form of physical therapy which uses the horse
as a therapy tool to address the movement disorders associated with various
neurological and neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy, cerebral
vascular accident (CVA), multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury. A
hippotherapy treatment is conducted by a licensed and specially trained
health care provider, most often a Physical or Occupational Therapist or
Speech Language Pathologist. Hippotherapy is not a new or experimental form
of therapy. It was first introduced in Europe following two epidemics of
poliomyelitis after World War II, and has been recognized since then as a
highly beneficial mode of treatment.
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Hippotherapy: A treatment prescribed by a physician in which a licensed
physical or occupational therapist uses the horse as a tool to stimulate the
nervous or muscular systems of the rider. The rider does not attempt to
direct the horse during hippotherapy. Because the motion of the horse's walk
stimulates the pelvis similarly to the motion of a human walk, riding can be
a great tool for people learning to walk. Recreational riding: This type of
therapy uses horsemanship skills to achieve desired goals. By learning how
to control and work with the horse as a partner, the rider may improve
motor, speech and language, and social skills.
Therapeutic riding and its benefits have been recognized for many years. It
is a proven method of increasing the physical, mental, emotional and
developmental capabilities of disabled persons. There is a healing
interaction between horses, riders and the people who help them.
Riding may encourage:
* Cognitive Thinking
* Correct Muscle Tone
* Life & Social Skills
* Gross & Fine Motor Skills
* Increased Physical Stamina
* Sensory Reception
* Proper Posture
* Independence
* Emotional Stability
* Self Esteem
* Vocalization
* Smiles
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Some children with cerebral palsy actually learn to walk while in the saddle
of a horse, and often they reap other benefits such as normalized muscle
tone.
Researchers at the Health Science Center want to find out why.
"Hippotherapy" is a specialty area of therapeutic horse riding, and has been
used to help patients with neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy and
neurological injuries caused by stroke and head trauma. Hippotherapy is
provided by licensed physical, occupational or speech therapists who are
trained in the technique.
Therapists ride with the patient, holding his or her head and other limbs if
necessary for support, or they walk alongside the patient who can sit on the
horse. "The rhythmic movement of the horse tends to reduce the abnormal
movement patterns of children with cerebral palsy, allowing the children
more freedom in purposeful, goal-directed movement," said Sandra Hubbard,
MA, OTR, assistant professor of occupational therapy at the Health Science
Center.
But how do children learn to walk? "The theory behind hippotherapy is that
the pelvic movement of the rider on the horse is the same as the pelvic
movement of human walking," said Theresa Nalty, MS, PT, NCS, assistant
professor of physical therapy. "The horse's repetitive movement, transferred
to the rider's pelvis, provides a three-dimensional pattern for walking."
Graduate-level physical therapy students at the Health Science Center,
supervised by Nalty, are proposing to research the motion that occurs during
hippotherapy and its effect on patients' balance, gait and muscle activity.
Such a study would be done with a motion analysis device which could be used
outdoors with the child on the horse.
"We hope to support popular use of hippotherapy with scientific proof of its
effectiveness," said Nalty.
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Sites for further information listed under
http://dir.yahoo.com/Recreation/Sports/Equestrian/Disabilities/
* ~Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore (RDA)
<http://home.pacific.net.sg/rda/> <<...>> - a registered charity
organisation that provides therapeutic horseriding lessons to the disabled.
Site includes volunteer opportunities.
* ~Banbury Cross Therapeutic Equestrian Center
<http://www.speedlink.net/banbury/> - therapeutic equestrian activities for
people with disabilities.
* Eagle Crest Therapeutic Center
<http://www.mexia.com/_eagle/index.htm> - charitable organization providing
therapy through horseback riding for children with physical, mental, and
emotional disabilities. All children are given scholarships.
* Equest <http://www.equest.org> - provides therapeutic sports riding
and hippotherapy to disabled individuals.
* Horsemanship for the Handicapped
<http://www.homestead.com/users/hfthsandiego/home.html> - rehabilitation and
therapy program for handicapped children and teens.
* Horses Unlimited, Inc. <http://www.psln.com/zipper/> - charitable
nonprofit corporation providing therapeutic horseback riding for people with
special needs in northeastern California.
* Kiwanis Horses and Handicapped Inc <http://www.ege.com/kiwanis/> -
therapeutic horseback riding for the handicapped.
* Magic Moments Riding Therapy
<http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge/9220/> - offers classes that
assist individuals with disabilities.
* NCEFT - National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy
<http://www.nceft.com> - non-profit organization committed to providing
physically challenged individuals with hippotherapy, which uses the horse as
a treatment tool.
* North American Riding for the Handicapped Association
<http://narha.org> - therapeutic horseback riding opportunities available
for individuals with disabilities.
* Northern Lights Equestrian Centre
<http://www.if-wishes-were-horses.com/> - home to "Saskatoon Horses and the
Handicapped Inc." charity, offers information on therpeutic riding, french
classical dressage, and more.
* Pal-O-Mine Equestrian <http://www.pal-o-mine.org/> - non-profit
therapeutic horseback riding program bringing benefits to those with
disabilities.
* Project Agape Institute <http://www.projectagape.org/> - non-profit
corporation using therapeutic horseback riding to increase the physical,
mental, emotional and developmental capabilities of disabled persons.
* ~Ride-able - Riding for Impaired or Disabled Equestrians
<http://www.rio.com/aaj/> - riding for impaired or disabled equestrians.
* ~SERT - Special Equestrian Riding Therapy, Inc.
<http://www.instanet.com/sert/> - a community-oriented, non-profit
organization providing physically, mentally and emotionally challenged
individuals an opportunity for emotional and physical growth through
horsemanship.
* Sonora Farms <http://sonorafarms.webjump.com> - offers recreational
and therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults of all ages and
disabilities.
The Family Village -- Horseback Riding and Hippotherapy
<http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/Leisure/hippotherapy.html> - Family
Village Recreation & Leisure Horseback Riding and Hippotherapy Capital Area
Therapeutic Riding Association (CATRA) -- Pennsylvania Freedom Rider This is
a catalog for the challenged equestrian. Handicapped Equestrian Learning
Program (H.E.L..
--http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/Leisure/hippotherapy.html
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