Physical Therapy for Montana Children With Neuromotor Disorders Using Hippotherapy and the Equine Environment
The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to determine if physical therapy incorporating horses can improve the motor skills of the arms in children 6-17 years old with neuromotor disorders (such as cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, or spina bifida) compared to standard play-based physical therapy. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is the study protocol feasible and acceptable for participants, that investigators could apply them to a larger trial? 2. Do participants make improvements toward their goals for motor function, arm use, and participation in life situations following treatment, and is it different between the experimental and comparative intervention groups? 3. What are the physiological, behavioral, and emotional responses of children receiving physical therapy incorporating horses, versus those receiving standard physical therapy? Researchers will compare the experimental group who receive physical therapy incorporating horses to the comparative intervention group who receive standard play-based physical therapy to see if there is a difference in outcomes. Participants will complete a pre- and post-intervention assessment of their motor function and participation in life situations. Participants will receive physical therapy twice a week for 8 weeks for the intervention. In both groups, physiological, behavioral, and emotional responses to the interventions will be measured in 4 total sessions, 1 each at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8.
• 1\) 6-17 years old; 2) Diagnosed NMD with upper extremity impairment; 3) Able to follow simple verbal instructions in English; 4) Able to tolerate sitting on a horse continuously for 30 minutes; and 5) Meet Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) standards for participating in mounted activities.