Animal therapies help with cerebral palsy

Six-year-old Emily Krieger has a mid case of spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Her mother signed her up for horseback riding lessons at the Therapeutic and Recreational Riding Center (TRCC) in Maryland. While Emily likes the lessons because “it’s fun,” her mother chose this program because of its reputed therapeutic effects.

Organizations like the TRCC offer therapeutic horseback riding and a special therapy called hippotherapy. Hippotherapy engages the patient in activities on horseback as part of physical, occupational, and speech cerebral palsy treatment, though it does not teach specific riding skills.

Most insurance plans cover hippotherapy for patients with cerebral palsy. Both therapeutic riding and hippotherapy can cost up to $100 per treatment session. Some organizations offer scholarships, which can also help to cover the cost of cerebral palsy treatment involving horses.

Equine therapy is geared toward individuals with developmental, physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities, including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, attention deficit disorder, and more.

According to Andrea Spridgen, spokesperson for the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, “Horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to the human gait. So when you put somebody on the horse, in order to keep their balance and be able to ride, they have to move their entire body.” She adds, “It improves muscle tone, posture, balance, coordination, and motor development.”

Emily, who walked toe to heel and used to fall often, is now walking heel to toe and is able to walk much better with the help of therapeutic riding and physical therapy.

In therapeutic riding, lessons take place in an individual or group setting and use special stretches, games, and exercises to treat patients with special needs. Horseback riding skill and basic horse care are also taught in therapeutic riding. Special equipment, like reins and saddles, have been made to meet the needs of different patients. Experts say that each cerebral palsy patient’s treatment is catered to their individual needs and abilities. The primary goal is to help the patients become as independent as possible.

Hippotherapy works a bit differently than therapeutic riding. Hippotherapy is used in conjunction with other forms of rehabilitation, including physical, occupational, and language therapies. Special exercises on the horse can improve a patient’s sensory processing and neurological functioning. These treatments may involve placing the student in a crawling position or sitting backwards or sideways on the horse. These positions are intended to help the patient used different muscles as the horse moves, building strength and stamina.

According to experts, these therapeutic movements are not easily reproduced in a clinical setting. All of the senses are engaged during equine therapy, which allows for maximum stimulation of the nerves and brain pathways.

During this form of cerebral palsy therapy, trained professionals guide the horse and patient through all exercises to ensure the child’s safety. A safety net is also used in the event of a slip or fall.

This is a special form of therapy with tremendous benefit to patients with cerebral palsy. It is an added bonus that so many patients have fun in the process.