Investigation of the Effect of Hippotherapy Simulator in Children With Spastic Diplegia and Cerebral Palsy

The aim of the study is to examine the effect of hippotherapy simulator on trunk control, balance and gait in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy and its relationship with quality of life.

Patients diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy in the study; It will be classified according to Gross Motor Function Classification System (KMFSS). The Trunk Control Measurement Scale will be used to assess trunk control. Pediatric Berg Balance Scale will be used to assess balance. The 1 Minute Walk Test and the Timed Get Up and Go test will be used to assess walking. The WEEFIM scale will be used to assess quality of life. The study sample will be divided into two groups. The first group will receive 45 minutes of conventional physical therapy. In addition to 45 minutes of physical therapy, the other group will receive 15 minutes of hippotherapy simulator. The results will be compared at the beginning and end of the study. Then, individuals will be divided into two groups with a simple randomized method. Traditional physical therapy will be applied to the control group for 45 minutes, 2 days a week, for 8 weeks. In addition to traditional physical therapy, 15 minutes of therapy training with a hippotherapy device will be applied to the experimental group. Evaluation tests will be repeated at the beginning and end of the study. Pre- and post-intervention data were statistically analyzed and compared.