Changes in Cardiorespiratory Responses and Kinematics With Hippotherapy in Youth With and Without Cerebral Palsy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize pelvic displacement and cardiorespiratory responses to simulated horseback riding and walking in youth with cerebral palsy and to compare responses to youth without cerebral palsy before and after 8 weeks of hippotherapy.

Method: Eight youth with cerebral palsy (M = 10 ± 4 years; M = 137 ± 24 cm; M = 32 ± 16 kg) and 8 youth without cerebral palsy (M = 11 ± 2 years; M = 149 ± 14 cm; M = 48 ± 15 kg) underwent a hippotherapy intervention. Participants completed simulated horseback riding at an intensity approximating a fast walk (0.