Efeito da equoterapia no desempenho motor da pessoa idosa

Abstract

Hippotherapy is a therapeutic method that uses the horse in an interdisciplinary approach with professionals in the health, education and riding fields. The aim of this study was to verify if the practice of hippotherapy is able to increase motor performance in the elderly, after 16 sessions of hippotherapy intervention. There were thirty-three elderly people aged 60 and over with motor independence and good cognition. The sample was divided in Control Group (CG, n = 16) and Experimental Group (EG, n = 17) who underwent equotherapy intervention. Both groups made preand post-intervention test: Timed up and go (TUG) to assess agility; assessment of static balance on a force platform, Handgrip strength for upper limb strength; Sit and Stand Test to assess lower limb strength, and Tapping Test to assess coordination. The intervention with the EG took place with the complete slicing of the saddle and bridle, using only the walking to analyze the impact of the three-dimensional movement. The CG did not perform any intervention. To verify the effect of the intervention, a mixed two-way ANOVA (2 x 2) was performed. The was no interaction of the variables between group and moment, there was also no group effect for the variables. Significant moment effect was observed for balance test variables: Mean Anteroposterior (AP) position, Total Displacement, Mean AP and Mid-Lateral (ML) velocity. For the mean AP position, the data show that the position at the postintervention moment of the COP was maintained more posteriorized. The conclusion of the present study is that 16 hippotherapy sessions without the application of additional exercise programs for the elderly, impacts the balance of the elderly, in the sense of displacing the COP posteriorized.