Hippotherapy and Parkinson's Disease

BACKGROUND: Motor symptoms associated with Parkinson\'s disease may impair one\'s independence and ability to perform daily activities consequently decreases quality of life. Hippotherapy has been shown as an effective treatment to improve function in daily activities and quality of life in other neurological populations, thus a study was conducted to assess the effects of hippotherapy in people with Parkinson\'s disease. METHODS: Nine volunteers formed the treatment group which participated in a ten-week hippotherapy program, and nine individuals formed the control group (attended a ten-week series of lessons on Parkinson\'s disease). Outcome measures included 30-second chair stand (as a measure of strength-endurance), gait velocity (during 10m walk test) and health-related quality of life.