Effects of hippotherapy on gross motor function in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy – a scoping review

Introduction: Cerebral palsy is one of the most commonly diagnosed neurological syndromes in children today. The prevalent abnormalities development patients with cerebral are related to general motor skills, body posture and muscle tension. sum these disorders affects, inter alia, gross which movements involving either entire or a significant part it. These include, for example, walking, running, jumping, swimming, cycling. Nowadays, medicine offers many types therapy palsy. Properly adjusted, they provide chance maintain appropriate levels activity physical fitness, prevent patient’s clinical condition from worsening. One supportive forms people suffering hippotherapy, which, thanks its universal status, an important complement rehabilitation process. aim study was assess effects hippotherapy on skills based literature review. Materials methods: MEDLINE PubMed medical database reviewed as recommended by PRISMA, using following keywords: “cerebral palsy” combination “hippotherapy” “gross function.” review included trials examining Results: A total 25 articles published between 1998 2021 were identified. changes assessed Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), Functional Status Scale, Pediatric Balance Bruininks–Oseretsky Test Proficiency. Second Edition (BOT-2) scales, Classification System (GMFCS), selected gait determinants including walking speed stride length. Conclusions: Hippotherapy improves adolescents aged 3–19, classified GMFCS I–V. However, more research needed establish long-term hippotherapy.