학술논문
The short-term effect of hippotherapy on spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury.
Document Type
Article
Author
Source
Subject
*SPINAL cord injuries
*THERAPEUTICS
*SPASTICITY
*PATIENTS
*LEG
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Language
ISSN
1362-4393
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN:: Assessment of spasticity before and after hippotherapy treatment. OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the short-term effect of hippotherapy on spasticity of spinal cord injured patients (SCIs). SETTING:: Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil. METHODS:: 32 patients with spinal cord injury with various degrees of spasticity had repeated sessions (mean 11) of Hippotherapy-K®. Spasticity of the lower extremities was scored according to the Ashworth Scale. RESULTS:: In primary rehabilitation patients Ashworth values after hippotherapy were significantly lower than before (Wilcoxon's signed-rank test: P<0.001). Highest improvements were observed in SCIs with very high spasticity. No significant difference between short-term effect in paraplegic and short-term effect in tetraplegic subjects was found. CONCLUSIONS:: Hippotherapy significantly reduces spasticity of lower extremities in SCIs.Spinal Cord (2003) 41, 502-505. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101492 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]