International audienceHippotherapy employs locomotion impulses that are emitted from the back of a horse while the horse is walking. These impulses stimulate the rider's postural reflex mechanisms, resulting in training of balance and coordination. The aim of the present study was to assess the changes in magnitude and distribution of the contact pressure between the rider and the horse during a series of hippotherapeutic lessons. The monitored group, consisting of four healthy women (mean age 22.75 years, mean body weight 59.75 kg, mean height 167.25 cm) without any previous horse riding experience, received five 20 minute-lessons lessons in a three-week period. Hippotherapy was given on a 15-year-old thoroughbred mare. An elastic pad (Novel Pliance System, 30 Hz, 224 sensors) was used for pressure magnitude evaluation. The maximum pressure value was increased ( < .05) in the event of a second measurement (5th lesson). The pressure exerted on the rider upon contact of the rear limbs was higher than upon contact of the front limbs ( < .01). The size of the COP deviations in the anteroposterior direction reduced ( < .05) with the number of lessons received. With the growing experience of the participant, an increase in pressure occurred on contact of her body and the horse's back as well as in the stability of the COP movement
BACKGROUND:In hippotherapy, in comparison to equitation, it is assumed that the rider is a passive element, only stimulated by mechanical impulses produced by the moving horse's back.OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the infl uence of the rider on the horse's movement in hippotherapy.METHODS: Two sound thoroughbreds with a similar body shape and size (age -19 and 14 years, withers height -1.65 m both, weight -548 and 500 kg) participated in the study. The test group of riders consisted of twelve healthy young women (age -23.3 ± 2.8, weight -59.2 ± 5.3, height -167.3 ± 4.2) without any previous horse riding experience. For each rider 36 trials in total (6 strides in 6 hippotherapy sessions held during the course of fi ve weeks) were evaluated. The movement was recorded by 4 videocameras (frequency 50 Hz). Spatiotemporal variables, the vertical displacement of selected points on the horse's limbs and the back and angle displacement of tarsus joint were analyzed by the APAS programme. Statistical processing was performed by the Statistica programme (one way ANOVA).RESULTS: In our study, we didn't fi nd any statistically signifi cant diff erence (p < 0.05) for stride duration, stride length and a horse's walking velocity. Upon the walking of horse no. 1 with various riders, statistically signifi cant diff erences (p < 0.01) in the vertical and angle displacement of points on the hind limb and on the horse's back were found. For horse no. 2, a statistically signifi cant infl uence of the rider on the movement of the horse was found only in the vertical displacement of the fore hoof.CONCLUSIONS: In hippotherapy, basic spatiotemporal variables of a horse's natural walking aren't infl uenced by the rider. As for the vertical displacement of points on the limbs and the horse's back, the results are not explicit. A larger number of horses is necessary for future study. The patient and the horse in hippotherapy are to be rather considered as interactive elements than as passive and active elements.
4 SummaryThe use of systems for pressure measurement between the rider's body and the back of the horse is a relatively new procedure. The size and transfer of the load inside the horse-pad-saddle-rider system can be assessed in various ways. This paper provides a review of literature published from 1994 to 2010 that discusses using pressure mapping systems for measuring the contact load between the horse and its rider. Literature was obtained using common scientific databases such as Web of Science, SCOPUS and PubMed entering the key words: "horse", "pressure", and "back". The first published studies aimed to verify sensor parameters and to minimize animal-and operator-induced errors. In order to obtain valid and reliable data, it is important to perform pressure measurements under highly standardized conditions. Moreover using properly established guidelines for calibrating and placing sensors is crucial for receiving valid data. Subsequent studies focused on the influence of various types of saddles, pads, blankets and adjustments of saddle fit on the loading of the horse's back. Results of these studies showed that using pressure mapping systems provide a useful evaluation of the load applied to the area of contact between the horse and rider. A properly fitted saddle with a pad can serve as a shock absorber. Literature findings suggest that improving the fit of a saddle by using a saddle pad needs to be individually adapted for each horse and rider. Considering the current status of literature on the use of pressure mapping systems in horseback riding future research should concentrate on using data obtained by biomechanical modelling of contact surfaces, including their interactions; on determining a "normal pattern" of pressure distribution on the equine back; and on finding a way to include individual parameters of the horse and its rider into the overall assessment.
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