Long-term effects of robotic hippotherapy on dynamic postural stability in cerebral palsy

AbstractBackground: Dynamic postural instability is a common neuromuscular impairment in cerebral palsy (CP), which often includes balance dysfunction and an associated risk of serious falls. Robotic hippotherapy has recently become a widespread clinical application to facilitate postural core stabilization, strength, and endurance through repetitive vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation to the spine via the sensorimotor system pathways. However, the long-term effects of robotic hippotherapy on dynamic postural instability in CP remain unclear.Objective: To examine the long-term effects of robotic hippotherapy on dynamic postural stability in CP.Methods: An advanced three-dimensional biomechanical eight-camera video motion capture (VMC) system was used to compute the center of mass (COM) pathway, which represents intervention-related spinal core instability. The robotic hippotherapy system was used to improve dynamic postural stability and associated balance performance. Robotic hippotherapy exercise ...