Immediate effects of a 30-min hippotherapy session on center of pressure displacement in children with autism spectrum disorder: A quasi-experimental study.

Researchers studied whether a 30-minute horse riding therapy session could immediately improve balance in children with autism compared to typically developing children. Both groups showed better balance right after the session, but children with autism showed greater improvements, especially when tested under more challenging conditions (eyes closed, unstable surface). The constant movement and adjustments needed while riding appeared to provide helpful training for the balance system.

This quasi-experimental study examined immediate effects of a 30-minute hippotherapy session on postural control in 120 children (60 with ASD, 60 typically developing). Researchers measured center of pressure displacement before and after hippotherapy using inertial sensors in two conditions: eyes open on rigid surface and eyes closed on foam. Both groups showed immediate improvements in postural control following hippotherapy, with greater changes observed in children with ASD, particularly during the more challenging sensory condition (eyes closed on foam). The rhythmic postural adjustments required to respond to horse movement provided relevant sensory-motor stimulation that immediately improved balance control, suggesting postural abilities are trainable in children with ASD.

Results suggest hippotherapy may be effective for improving postural control in children with ASD, with immediate benefits observable after single sessions. The greater responsiveness in ASD children supports including hippotherapy in sensorimotor intervention programs, though research on sustained effects needed.

Quasi-experimental design limits causal inferences. Only immediate effects measured - long-term benefits unknown. No control group without hippotherapy intervention. Sample characteristics not fully described. Unclear if findings generalize beyond single session.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder affecting sensorimotor systems, potentially disturbing postural control and stability. Considering the treatment options for these children, hippotherapy (HPOT) is based on horse movements to provide sensory stimuli and motor challenges, potentially contributing to improvements in postural control. To investigate the immediate effects of a 30-min HPOT session on the center of pressure (CoP) displacement of children with ASD (ASDG) and children with typical development (TDG). 120 children (60 ASDG; 60 TDG) underwent a 30-min HPOT session, riding with a saddle. Before and immediately after the session, children's CoP displacement was assessed in a standing position using an inertial sensor in two different sensory conditions: open eyes/rigid surface (OE/RS) and closed eyes/foam (CE/FO).

Two-way ANOVAs were applied using time (PRE vs. POS) and groups (ASDG vs. TDG) as factors for each experimental condition (OE/RS and CE/FO). A single 30-min HPOT session produced immediate changes in CoP displacement irrespective of health condition (ASDG and TDG).

Greater changes were found during maintenance on a more challenging sensorial condition (CE/FO), particularly in the ASDG, compared to the TDG. The constant and rhythmic postural adjustments in response to the perturbation caused by the horse's gait during a 30-min HPOT session may constitute a relevant stimulus to immediately change CoP displacement, reinforcing the arguments that postural control is potentially trainable in children with ASD.