The Effects of Hippotherapy on Motor Performance and Function in an Individual with Bilateral Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)

Hippotherapy is a specialized therapy treatment strategy that uses the horse’s movement to influence the patient/client in a various number of ways. 1 Hippo is derived from the Greek word “hippos” which means horse. Hippotherapy is conducted by a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech language pathologist as part of a patient/client’s intervention. During hippotherapy, functional riding skills are not taught. The client sits on the horse’s back and physically accommodates to the three-dimensional movements of the horse’s walk. The client does not influence the horse; rather the horse’s movement influences the rider. 2 Through the repetitive, rhythmical movement of the horse, the client experiences and begins to anticipate movement with each step of the walking horse. The client learns to produce compensatory movements that reduce the displacement of his or her center of gravity and keep the client on the moving horse. 3