Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy is a form of therapeutic riding an animal -based, physiotherapy methods used in the specially trained horses. It is used in all age groups for diseases of the central nervous system, the musculoskeletal apparatus.

Operation

Hippotherapy is a form of physiotherapy on a neurophysiological basis. The patient sits in the gait step on horseback and the horse therapy is used as a medium to transmit three-dimensional vibrations to the basin of the people. The resulting pulses allow the training of posture, balance and support reactions as well as a normalization of muscle tension. This also facilitates the accomplishment of everyday tasks.

A healing effect is to be achieved mainly by the fact that the human body must find a new balance to the pulses caused by the moving horse, here. In this case, all axes of motion and torsional motion are used. At the same time the horse can serve as a motivational tool by allowing the therapist access to patients. Also there is the chance to get at through the application of the so-called hippotherapy Matt tiredness or weariness therapy.

Application

Half side paralyzed people ( hemiparesis ) can develop a sense of their midsection. People with limb damage ( dysmelia ) and subsequent distortion of the skeletal system to stabilize their muscles, learn corrective postures and so also prevent joint deformities. At the same time the muscle tension ( muscle tone) is positively affected; flabby muscles tense up to, spastic, so overtight Muskulaturen, humor. Thus the entire attitude especially of the upper body is trained and improved sense of balance.

Contraindications

Should not be used hippotherapy in patients with inflammation of the spine or medically not well-controlled seizure disorder, with an active thrust in multiple sclerosis, risk of thrombosis or embolism, bleeding disorder or horse hair allergy.

Training for therapists Hippo

Physiotherapists and occupational therapists hippotherapy want to offer, this can acquire an additional qualification that is offered among others by the German Association for therapeutic riding in Warendorf or the European Academy of Equine Seminars near Hanover. In Switzerland, this can be purchased in either Basel or at the German group hippotherapy in southern Germany.

Criticism

The main criticism of the hippotherapy is the high financial cost in comparison to other therapeutic procedure without proven higher benefits. Although with a health insurance cover the costs of hippotherapy applied in Germany in 1982 was issued in 2002 a judgment of the Federal Social Court (judgment of 19 March 2002, Az B 1 KR 36/ 00 R ), after which therapy should not be financed by health insurance. It was based primarily on a lack of recognition by the Federal Joint Committee of Physicians and Sickness Funds.

The Federal Ministry of Health announced on 20 June 2006 that a therapeutic benefit of hippotherapy is not detected and treatment is therefore necessary to perform as a non prescription cure enabled. On the other hand, the Hippo therapy in diseases associated with increased muscle tone, has been shown (eg, spasticity) as effectively and as a suitable method for the treatment of myalgia in myotonic dystrophy type 2.