The Effect of Hippotherapy Applied on Different Sitting Surfaces on Sitting Balance and Walking Speed in Children With Special Needs

The effect of hippotherapy, which will be applied to children with special needs in a single session, on sitting balance and walking speed under the supervision of a physiotherapist was investigated. 30 randomly selected children with special needs between the ages of 3-18 who were referred to the Gebze Equestrian Training Center were included in the study. The children were randomly divided into 3 groups: 10 in the saddle, 10 naked (direct contact with the horse), and 10 in the hippotherapy group, in which a cloth of different texture was placed on the horse. Each group did a 30-minute hippotherapy session in the manege area. Before the application, the sitting balance of the children was evaluated by playing the Nintendo Wii Balance Platform and the Basic Balance Game. In addition, 10 m walking test was applied for walking speed. These assessments were repeated after the 30-minute session. It was checked whether the application had an effect on balance and walking speed. Comparisons between the groups were made and it was examined which application was more effective on balance and walking speed.