The Effects of Hippotherapy on Rehabilitation Interventions and Psychological Outcomes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19248753Keywords:
Hippotherapy, Rehabilitation, Psychology, Horse-assisted therapyAbstract
This narrative review aims to evaluate the use of hippotherapy within rehabilitation settings and to discuss its potential psychological outcomes based on the available literature. Hippotherapy is a clinician-directed intervention that utilizes the horse’s rhythmic and symmetrical gait together with multisensory input—to modulate postural control, locomotor function, and related neuromotor processes. The reviewed studies generally report favorable trends in balance, posture, gross motor performance, and functional capacity, while several reports also indicate improvements in motivation, social interaction, communication, and mood-related indicators in selected populations. Safety and clinical impact depend on standardized session planning, a trained multidisciplinary team, appropriate horse selection, and adherence to equine welfare principles. Although the strength of evidence is constrained by heterogeneous protocols and limited sample sizes, hippotherapy may be considered a complementary option across diverse rehabilitation contexts.
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