Hippotherapy Essay

Over the years, therapy has become a major factor in helping to cure diseases both mentally and physically. Today, a therapy used for both adults and children with Cerebral Palsy and Scoliosis is Hippotherapy. Hippotherapy is the use of a horse to fix the sensory motors and the structure of the spine. This therapy was first introduced back in the B.C era, but because of the lack of technology the research of the therapy was placed on hold until 1875 when Dr. Chassaign started looking into activities that can help improve things such as posture, balance, and joint movement. Hippotherapy helps improve the sensory motors and spine structure. This opinion is based on observations made at Heavenly Hoofs, which is a place that deals with therapeutic riding. Hippotherapy can help children and adult with both spine and mobilization problems by using the motion of the horse to slowly fix sensory motors.

In fact, a horse’s movement is very similar to that of a human. The motion of the horse not only keeps the patient aware of his actions, but stimulates their senses in order to allow them to think of what they must do, which enables the constant use of their brainwaves. According to Infinitec in the article Hippotherapy, a horse’s rhythmic motion helps stabilize a patient’s condition that in return also improves their posture, balance, mobility, and function (Infinitect). For example, at Heavenly Hoofs each lesson consist of activities that enables the use of the patient’s motor skills. In this case patient A, has a severe case of cerebral palsy. At first patient A had trouble with keeping a firm grip and his back straight, but as the weeks went by he improved. Patient A is now able to bring his leg over the horse in order to moun...

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...thers. Hippotherapy helps individuals who have been affected by conditions such as scoliosis and cerebral palsy by helping them re-take charge of their lives.

Works Cited

Aetna. (1997 , March 31). Clinical Policy Bulletin: Hippotherapy . Retrieved March 7, 2014, from Number: 0151 http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/100_199/0151.html AHA. (2010). American Hippotherapy Association. Retrieved November 5, 2013, from Hippotherapy as a Treatment Strategy http://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org/hippotherapy/hippotherapy-as-a-treatment-strategy/ Infinitec. (n.d.). Hippotherapy. Retrieved November 5, 2013, from Infinitect http://www.infinitec.org/live/special%20animals/horses.html Levinson's, F. (2011, September 20). Horse Therapy - Changing Lives . Retrieved November 5, 2013, from Way of the Horse

http://www.wayofthehorse.org/Articles/horse-therapy.html