Effect of horse riding equipment in activity of trunk and lower limb muscles in equine-assisted therapy
Authors: J. B. Lage, M. F. Ribeiro, V. Teixeira, R. Rosa, A. A. Ferreira, Ana Paula Espindula
Journal: Acta Scientiarum. Health Science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Equine-assisted therapy relies on the dynamic interaction between rider and horse to promote neuromuscular rehabilitation, yet the optimal equipment configuration remains poorly characterised across different client populations. Using surface electromyography, researchers compared trunk and lower limb muscle activation in 15 adolescents (mean age 16 years) with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or intellectual disability across four equipment configurations: saddle and blanket setups, each tested with and without stirrup support. The findings revealed pathology-specific responses: individuals with Down syndrome and intellectual disability demonstrated significantly greater muscular activation when riding on a blanket without stirrups, whilst those with cerebral palsy showed optimal activation patterns with a saddle and feet supported in stirrups (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). These results suggest that prescriptive equipment selection—rather than standardised protocols—should be tailored to each client's neuromotor profile, as the proprioceptive demands and postural stability requirements differ materially between conditions. For practitioners developing equine-assisted therapy programmes, this work underscores the importance of individualised assessment when configuring riding equipment to maximise therapeutic muscular engagement and rehabilitation potential.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Equipment selection in equine-assisted therapy should be tailored to the specific diagnosis: blanket without stirrups for Down syndrome and intellectual disability, saddle with stirrups for cerebral palsy
- •Varying equipment configurations directly modulates muscular demand and motor engagement, making equipment choice a critical therapeutic variable rather than a comfort consideration
- •Assessment of individual muscle activation patterns with different equipment can guide optimal therapy setup for maximizing rehabilitation outcomes
Key Findings
- •Down syndrome individuals showed greatest trunk and lower limb muscle activity with blanket equipment without stirrups (p=0.002)
- •Intellectual disability individuals also showed greatest muscle activity with blanket equipment without stirrups (p=0.040)
- •Cerebral palsy individuals showed greatest muscle activity with saddle and feet supported in stirrups (p=0.011)
- •Riding equipment choice significantly affects trunk and lower limb muscle activation patterns differently depending on the individual's diagnosis