Effects of hippotherapy on postural balance, functional mobility, self-perceived fatigue, and quality of life in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Secondary results of an exploratory clinical trial.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) results in worsening of postural balance, functional mobility, and self-perceived fatigue as influences of quality of life.

Objective: To examine the effects of hippotherapy on postural balance, functional mobility, self-perceived fatigue, and quality of life in people with MS.

Methods: Participants were assigned into a hippotherapy intervention group (n= 17) or a control group (n= 16). The intervention included 16 sessions of 30-minutes of hippotherapy conducted twice a week whereas the control group was maintained their therapeutic routine. Postural balance was evaluated as CoP speed (cm/s) and CoP 95% elliptical area (cm) using a force platform under 4 experimental conditions: stable surface/ eyes open, stable surface/ eyes closed, foam surface/ eyes open, and foam surface/ eyes closed. Functional mobility was evaluated by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) measured perceived fatigue, and the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS) measured quality of life. The data were examined using mixed model ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc.

Results: CoP speed and CoP 95% elliptical area (p < .05) significantly decreased across all testing conditions for the intervention group compared with control. The TUG improved over time in the intervention group (p = .001) as did the FSS (p < .001). In addition, there was also an improvement for the score and all the MFIS domains (p < .005) for the intervention group compared with control and for FAMS improved over time in the intervention group (p < .05).

Conclusion: Hippotherapy improved postural balance, functional mobility, fatigue, and quality of life in people with relapsing-remitting MS. This suggests that hippotherapy may be a useful approach for complimentary treatment among people with MS.