Summary of the Systematic Review

Muscle reaction function of individuals with intellectual disabilities may be improved through therapeutic use of a horse

Giagazoglou, Arabatzi, Liga, Kellis, Karra, Amiridis

Research in Dev. Disabilities (2013)

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Description

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of a 14-week hippotherapy exercise program on movement reaction time and muscle activation in adolescents with intellectual disability (ID). Nineteen adolescents with moderate ID were assigned either to an experimental group (n=10) or a control group (n=9). The experimental group attended a hippotherapy exercise program, consisting of two 30-min sessions per week for 14 weeks. Reaction time, time of maximum muscle activity and electromyographic activity (EMG) of rectus femoris and biceps femoris when standing up from a chair under three conditions: in response to audio, visual and audio with closed eyes stimuli were measured. 

Profession 

Physical Therapist 

Location 

Greece

Intervention Terminology

HPOT

Study Design 

Randomized group with control pre–post

Sample

19 Adolescents 

Age/Population

13-17 years 

Assessment/ Outcome measure tools

Reaction time, time of maximum muscle activity and electromyographic activity (EMG) of rectus femoris and biceps femoris when standing up from a chair under three conditions: in response to audio, visual and audio with closed eyes stimuli were measured. 

Result Category 

Reaction Time

Dosage/Description of Intervention

Experimental group= 2x week for 14 weeks HPOT for 30 minutes each