Use the Back button in your browser to see the other results of your search or to select another record.

Detailed Search Results

Hippotherapie bei multipler sklerose: ergebnisse einer prospektiven, randomisierten, einfach-blinden studie und ubersicht uber die literatur (Hippotherapy in multiple sclerosis -- results of a prospective, controlled, randomised single-blind trial and review of the literature) [German]
Schatz L, Boswell S, Eitel A, Gusowski K, Flachenecker P
Neurologie und Rehabilitation 2014;20(5):246-252
clinical trial
5/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: No; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: Yes; Adequate follow-up: No; Intention-to-treat analysis: No; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

Hippotherapy may have a positive impact on spasticity, gait, balance and eventually quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but clinical studies are rare. Therefore, we conducted a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial and discuss the results in the context of the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible were patients >= 18 years with definite MS according to the McDonald criteria who (1) were admitted to inpatient rehabilitation between October 2007 and June 2008, (2) had impaired walking capacity (EDSS 4.0 to 7.0), and (3) gave informed consent. All patients were treated with their individual, goal-oriented rehabilitation program. The hippotherapy group (HG, 15 patients, 10 female, 5 male, age 45.2 +/- 8.5 years, median EDSS 5.0) received once weekly (Tuesday afternoon) 20 minutes hippotherapy, whereas the control group (CG, 14 patients, 11 female, 3 male, age 48.6 +/- 9.6 years, median EDSS 5.0) was treated once weekly with an additional 30 minute session of traditional physiotherapy. A blinded investigator performed 6-minute walking test (6minWT), 10-meter walking test (10mWT) and timed-get-up-and-go test (TGUG) three times per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday). Several other tests including video-assisted gait analysis were done before and after the three week study period. RESULTS: The 6minWT was significantly improved after three weeks in both groups, whereas gait analysis was significantly different only in HG. In addition, only HG but not CG resulted in positive effects directly after the intervention. Accordingly, pooled analysis showed significant improvements in 6minWT, 10mWT and TGUG from Tuesday to Wednesday only in HG, with no differences in CG. CONCLUSION: The results of our study show that hippotherapy has short- and mid-term effects on gait quality, walking ability and endurance that exceed those of traditional physiotherapy. Hippotherapy may thus be an important part in the rehabilitation of patients with MS.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help