Hippotherapy in neurodevelopmental disorders: a narrative review focusing on cognitive and behavioral outcomes.

Hippotherapy (HT) is a rehabilitative tool inducing psychological and motor improvements using human-horse interaction. HT provides sensory stimulation to the rider through the rhythmic and repetitive movements of the horse, facilitating communication between patients and healthcare professionals, favoring the establishment of a therapeutic alliance. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the effects of HT treatment on cognitive-behavioral processes in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Donkey Therapy and Hippotherapy: Two Faces of the Same Coin?

Animal-assisted interventions are considered an innovative rehabilitation approach to improve social, emotional, and physical domains in several diseases. Among such treatments, the equine-assisted activities and therapies have been developed to support the conventional approaches. There is growing evidence on the beneficial effects of hippotherapy, whereas few data are available regarding donkey therapy.

Can Individuals with Down Syndrome Benefit from Hippotherapy? An Exploratory Study on Gait and Balance.

: To evaluate whether a hippotherapy protocol may influence balance and gait in patients with Down Syndrome (DS). : Fifteen male patients affected by DS underwent a 6-month hippotherapy protocol. Stabilometric, baropodometric, and gait assessments were performed at baseline (T) and at the end of the treatment (T).

Spinal cord compression due to extramedullary haematopoiesis in two patients with thalassaemia: complete regression with blood transfusion therapy.

Extramedullary haematopoiesis, a common finding in thalassaemia, is rarely localized in the spinal cord and even more rarely has neurological manifestations. We present two patients suffering from thalassaemia (intermedia and beta homozygous) and paraparesis due to spinal cord compression from intrathoracic extramedullary haematopoietic masses. Diagnosis was based on magnetic resonance imaging findings, and treatment consisted of blood hypertransfusions.