Mutual Interaction Between Horses and Patients Improves Cerebral Palsy

Professor Heo Pilwon's Research Team at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
Identifying the Effectiveness and Mechanism of Hippotherapy Rehabilitation Exercise for Cerebral Palsy Patients

Equestrian. Stock photo. Not related to the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Domestic scientists have identified the reasons why equestrian exercise aids in the rehabilitation of cerebral palsy patients.

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) announced on the 14th that Professor Heo Pil-won's research team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with Dr. Priscilla Lightsey's research team at Texas A&M University, has elucidated the effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of horseback riding for gait rehabilitation in cerebral palsy patients.

The prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) among children in South Korea is high, occurring at a rate of about 3 per 1,000 children. Although a complete cure is nearly impossible, motor functions can be improved through rehabilitation therapy and social interactions. Most infants with cerebral palsy exhibit spasticity, characterized by abnormal muscle tone, resulting in unnatural posture and difficulties in basic activities such as walking and balance. Recently, rehabilitation using horseback riding has gradually gained recognition for its effectiveness, but the specific mechanisms had not yet been clarified.

The research team identified how equestrian rehabilitation improves gait and balance abilities in cerebral palsy patients. The cerebral palsy patients participating in the experiment underwent eight sessions of horseback riding rehabilitation, and the results confirmed improvements in their walking and balance abilities. Notably, the team found that as rehabilitation progressed, the movements of the cerebral palsy patients and the animals (horses) became synchronized, which contributed to the improvement of the patients' physical condition. Unlike previous studies that only reported the effectiveness of horseback riding rehabilitation, this study clarified the reasons behind its efficacy. In particular, the physical interactions between the patients and the animals (horses) were quantified as data.

Professor Heo stated, “The significance lies in confirming the potential for developing cerebral palsy horseback riding rehabilitation programs and related technologies that actively utilize physical interactions and emotional empathy between humans and animals (horses).” He added, “We hope to maximize the efficiency of cerebral palsy rehabilitation in the future and contribute to improving the quality of life for cerebral palsy patients.”

The results of this study were published on the 6th of last month in the ‘Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation,’ an international journal ranked in the top 5.15% in the field of rehabilitation.

(Left) It can be observed that the horse's movements affect the patient's movements. (Right) The frequency characteristics of the movements of the horse and the patient can be confirmed. It can be seen that the movements of the patient and the horse become synchronized as the patient undergoes hippotherapy.

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