Electromyographic analysis during hippotherapy sessions in practitioners with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Introduction: Hippotherapy has emerged as a form of treatment for individuals with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Objective: To verify the effect of the mount type in the muscular activity in patients with CP. Methods: Three practitioners with CP were evaluated by electromyography during four hippotherapy sessions. In each session the mount condition was changed. A descriptive statistical analysis with mean and standard deviation of normalized RMS was performed. Results: The trapezius muscle was always active in the positions initial sitting and final sitting, in all mount conditions, except in the saddle without the feet support. At the three moments evaluated during sessions, it was observed in the condition horse with blanket, that muscle activity was also high in trapezius compared to the other muscles. The feet support allowed a more homogeneous activation of the trunk muscles evaluated, when compared to lack of support. Conclusion: To use saddle on foot in the stirrup was the best option for the hippotherapy treatment of the hemiparetic individuals evaluated.