Objective: To examine whether hippotherapy has a clinically significant effect on gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Setting: Outpatient therapy center.
Participants: Ninety-two children with CP, aged 4-10 years, presenting variable function (Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] levels I-IV).
Intervention: Hippotherapy (30 minutes twice weekly for 8 consecutive weeks).
Outcome measures: Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88, GMFM-66, and Pediatric Balance Scale.
Results: Pre- and post-treatment measures were completed by 91 children (45 in the intervention group and 46 in the control group). Differences in improvement on all three measures significantly differed between groups after the 8-week study period. Dimensions of GMFM-88 improved significantly after hippotherapy varied by GMFCS level: dimension E in level I, dimensions D and E in level II, dimensions C and D in level III, and dimensions B and C in level IV.
Conclusion: Hippotherapy positively affects gross motor function and balance in children with CP of various functional levels.