Effects of Adaptive Riding Exercise on Children with Cerebral Palsy

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of adaptive riding exercise on selected parameters in children with cerebral palsy. Twenty children, ranging in age from 8 to 12 years, participated in the study, and an experimental and a control groups were formed.

The intervention was administered by an adaptive riding instructor and comprised repeated 30-45-minute sessions, three times per week for a 12-week period. Specially selected and trained horses, together with volunteer university students, were employed.

The collection of data was executed through a series of assessments administered prior to and following the intervention. The pre-test and post-test assessments focused on parameters including leg-back strength, unilateral-bilateral flexibility, accuracy, linearity, maximum grip force, and the rate of grip force development. Subsequent analysis was conducted using an interactive mixed model ANOVA.

The experimental group demonstrated superior performance in hand-eye coordination, grip strength, flexibility, and muscle strength in comparison to the control group. The present study posits that adaptive riding exercise exerts a supportive effect on children diagnosed with CP grades GMFCS-2 and GMFCS-3. It is therefore recommended that children diagnosed with cerebral palsy be encouraged to participate in an adaptive riding programme.