Hippotherapy is what? Hippotherapy for children with cerebral palsy

Communication with animals is always a learning new, unknown. This simple exercise gives us a lot of fun and cheers up. It is difficult to overestimate the positive impact of our smaller brothers on the development and development of the inner world of children and adults. On this occasion, various studies were carried out, many scientific works were written, hypotheses were put forward. Today we will talk about a direction that involves communication with horses. Namely - we will tell you what is the treatment with hippotherapy.

What it is?

Hippotherapy is a whole complex of various exercises of riding, with the help of which the necessary therapeutic effect is achieved on the human body. In translation from Greek, literally means "treatment by a horse."

Hippotherapy as a method of treatment: history of occurrence

People have long been noticed that warriors-riders recover much faster from injuries and wounds. Even in the XVIII century was created encyclopedic work, telling about the importance of riding for health. But for a long time hippotherapy was not a separate medical discipline. Only in the 1960s did horse riding gradually become an additional method of treating various diseases under the supervision and guidance of a physiotherapist. Hippotherapy began to spread in Europe: Austria, Switzerland, Germany.

But the real birth of the therapeutic method is considered the formation of the American Association in 1992. And in Russia, for the first time, the hippotherapy center "Live thread" was used for horse riding in 1991 for children.

Tasks

To date, hippotherapy is one of the methods of therapeutic physical education. The tasks that horse riding can perform as a physiotherapeutic method are as follows:

• Reduce muscle tone;
• Restore the activity of joints and muscle groups;
• Develop strength, endurance;
• To massage the deep muscles, thereby facilitating the release of tension, their activation;
• Improve the efficiency of the patient's rehabilitation process.

Indications

Hippotherapy is prescribed as an additional method of rehabilitation of patients with neurological problems, disorders of the musculoskeletal system, as well as with mental disorders. Effectively applies hippotherapy for children. Small patients actively and with great pleasure, interest and joy accept such an unusual way of healing.

Hippotherapy helps with such diseases:

• Infantile cerebral palsy (cerebral palsy) ;
• Down's syndrome;
• Mental retardation;
• Autism;
• Multiple sclerosis;
• Trauma to the skull;
• Disorders in the work of the locomotor system of traumatic origin;
• Arthritis;
• Stroke;
• Ischemic heart disease;
• Gynecological and urogenital diseases, especially inflammatory;
• Psychological and behavioral violation;
• Psychiatric disorders: neuroses, schizophrenia.

Contraindications

There are certain conditions and diseases in which riding is contraindicated in order to prevent complications and worsen the patient's health. These include:

• Any diseases in acute form;
• hemophilia;
• osteoporosis;
• Problems with kidneys of various etiologies;
• Brittle bones and joints.

Often cases of allergic reaction to the animal's fur. In this case, the expert assesses the severity of the condition and decides whether to continue the hippotherapy, or the need for a temporary suspension of the course. In most cases, this reaction takes place on its own several weeks later.

Features

There are certain features of this method of rehabilitation, such as hippotherapy. First of all horse riding is not so much a method of physiotherapy, as a pleasant and useful active pastime. Therefore, the treatment is conducted in a comfortable psychological setting with a positive attitude toward the result. The process passes unnoticed for the patient.

Secondly, during training muscles tend to reflexively during riding on a horse. It is important for the patient to maintain balance during the course of the animal, so even those muscles that are damaged are beginning to work imperceptibly.

Psychological influence of the method

It is difficult to overestimate the beneficial effect of riding on the patient's inner world, especially children. Communication with such a majestic being as a horse is sure to be remembered by a child. In the process of training, a close connection is created between the animal and the rider: they learn to understand each other's character, to act in a coordinated manner.

Hippotherapy for children and adults can be prescribed for problems of perseverance, the presence of excessive aggressiveness, fussiness, prolonged stresses and depressions, experiences. To a closed person, hippotherapy helps liberate oneself, find contact with others, and increase self-esteem. And caring for the horse develops skills of independence, responsibility. When communicating with this magnificent animal, a sense of appeasement, cheerfulness, and positive appears.

Physiological treatment

The main role in hippotherapy is made by physiological vibrational movements during horse racing. In rehabilitation centers of horse riding, special complexes of horse movements are developed to achieve maximum efficiency in the treatment of certain diseases.

How does riding rally fight serious health problems? Hippotherapy is a serious physical load. The thing is that the oscillatory movements of the horse involuntarily force certain groups of muscles of the rider to contract in order to keep the balance. In addition, during the walking of the animal, the patient's internal organs massage, and the joints work. Interesting is also the fact that during lessons the pulse to such indicators as an athlete who has run several kilometers, but there is no difficulty in breathing and work of the heart, increases.

Favorable for the health of the rider is also the increased, in comparison with the person, body temperature of the horse. It is 37-38 degrees. Thus, natural heating of skin, muscles, joints and some organs is carried out.

Necessary conditions for the effectiveness of the method

In order for hippotherapy to bring significant results in the treatment of the disease, it is necessary to have the following factors:

• Desire and conscious participation of the patient in therapy;
• Developed a set of exercises (physicians of therapeutic physical training);
• Gradual increase in the complexity of classes and increase the time spent riding a horse;
• Systematic regular therapy;
• The correct combination of hippotherapy with other methods of treatment.

Hippotherapy in the treatment of cerebral palsy

Hippotherapy for children with cerebral palsy is highly effective. Positive results were recorded using this method. Studies and observations have shown that this method of therapeutic physical training helps to reduce the clamping of muscles, improve motility. Involuntary massage of deep muscle groups during riding, which can not be used by other therapeutic methods, contributes to improving the patient's motor activity.

Do not underestimate the role of the animal itself in the rehabilitation process. Communication with the horse, caring for her also have an impact on the healing process. In addition, riding classes are conducted outdoors, often in picturesque terrain, which has only a positive effect on the patient, reflects on his perception of the surrounding world and the appreciation of the great gift of life.

Today almost every equestrian club undergoes hippotherapy in Moscow for children with disorders of the central nervous system.

Hippotherapy for the treatment of children

As already noted above, hippotherapy is most effective in treating children. The best results are achieved in patients 5-12 years old. So, it is during this period that children are most open to the world, they are happy to learn the environment, are sympathetic and are able to easily perceive everything new. The main condition for classes with children is the creation during the lessons of an atmosphere of trust, friendliness in order for the kid to be liberated and to perform tasks with pleasure.

Hippotherapy is used for children with cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, with a lag in mental development. The principle of the influence of the riding method in autism has not been fully understood, but also the facts of socialization of a small patient, improvement of interaction between the child and surrounding people are noted.

Apply the method of physiotherapy and for children with mental disorders who have been subjected to violence or who have experienced loss of loved ones, adolescents with suicidal tendencies and other psychological problems.

Where is hippotherapy in Moscow?

On the outskirts of modern megacities, it is not difficult to find a suitable equestrian rehabilitation center. The attending physician will necessarily advise a horse club that is suitable in your case. Let's list some of the most popular places where hippotherapy is held in Moscow:

1. "Live thread" on the street. Running, 2 (central race track).
2. "Equestrian club for the disabled": Zagorodnoye shosse, 1.
3. "Gaia": st. Burtsevskaya, 1a.
4. "Readinghorse": st. Dybenko, 5.
5. "Socoros": Cross-section, 11.

The listed clubs are highly professional staff and affordable pricing.

Hippotherapy: reviews

It is difficult to find negative feedback about such a pleasant and interesting method of treatment. Negative experience of riding is most often associated with either the patient's unreadiness for training, or the low qualifications and professionalism of the horse-club staff.

The majority agrees that hippotherapy is an effective rehabilitation physiotherapy method for fighting various diseases. But special efficiency is observed when riding is used to treat children suffering from cerebral palsy. Increasingly, doctors recommend that parents of such babies resort to an unusual method of treatment. The results amaze not only relatives, but often specialists as well - there have been cases of significant improvement in the state of children with a violation of the central nervous system after just a month of regular hippotherapy.

But, it is worth noting that such an occupation is not cheap. Training hippotherapy for 30 minutes on average will cost 300-500 rubles. And to achieve maximum results, it is recommended to conduct classes three times a week for an hour.

Hippotherapy is not just a method of treatment. This is a whole philosophy, a new way of life. Once sitting on horseback, it is difficult to abandon such pleasure in the future. Positive impressions and emotions, as well as the undeniable physiological benefits of riding, are useful not only for the sick, but for absolutely healthy people of any age.