PT for Montana Children With NMD Using Hippotherapy and the Equine Environment

"Subjects will be mounted on a horse for 15-30 minutes. Therapeutic activities will include movements like reaching, throwing, and bilateral coordination tasks in addition to assuming various positions on the horse during equine movement, per the tolerance of individual participants. Remaining treatment time will involve participation-based functional motor activities in the equine environment, such as feeding and grooming horses.~Treatment will include the following active ingredients:~1. Encourage use of both upper extremities during therapeutic activities.~2. Design therapeutic activities with equines to guide practice of functional motor skills.~3. Design therapeutic activities with the equines to practice participation (ie. activities involved in life situations).~4. Utilize the presence of the equines to optimize patient mood and engagement in the therapeutic activities. (Design activities around patient strengths and preferences; use the equines as positive reinforcement)"

"The treatment will focus on encouragement of functional play activities, such as reaching, throwing, and catching games. Treatment will incorporate the following active ingredients:~1. Encourage use of both upper extremities during therapeutic activities.~2. Design therapeutic activities using play and games to guide practice of functional motor skills.~3. Design therapeutic activities with play and games to practice participation (ie. activities involved in life situations).~4. Utilize play and games to optimize patient mood and engagement in the therapeutic activities. (Design activities around patient strengths and preferences; use play and games as positive reinforcement)"