Effects of Hippotherapy in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent disorders of movement and posture caused bynon‐progressive disturbances in the developing brain. Children with cerebral palsy mayexperience limitations in balance, trunk control, posture, mobility, and dailyactivities.During hippotherapy, the rhythmic and multidirectional movements of the horse providecontinuous sensory and motor stimulation, requiring the child to make repeated posturaladjustments. These characteristics may support balance, postural control, muscleactivation, and functional performance.Although the effects of hippotherapy on motor function in children with cerebral palsyhave been investigated, evidence regarding its combined effects on physical function,bladder and bowel symptoms, and family quality of life remains limited. Therefore, thepresent study aims to investigate the effects of hippotherapy on physicalfunction‐including balance, trunk control, posture, and handgrip strength‐as well asbladder and bowel symptoms and family quality of life in children with cerebral palsy.The findings may contribute to the literature and provide guidance for rehabilitationpractices.