Impact of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies on Gross Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Prospective Case Series

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the sustained effects of a 3-week equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) program on motor function and muscle activity in children with cerebral palsy (CP).Methods: Nine children with CP (aged 5-15 years, Gross Motor Function Classification System stages I-III) participated in the study.We assessed Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) scores, Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) scores, BioRescue static posturography (RM Ingenierie) findings, core-muscle activity, and body composition before, immediately after, and 3 months after EAAT.Results: Of the nine included children, eight showed improvement in their GMFM-66 scores and six showed improvement in their PBS scores.No significant changes were observed in GMFM-66 and PBS scores immediately after the EAAT program compared to baseline.However, significant improvements were noted 3 months after EAAT in both GMFM-66 and PBS scores.Trunk skeletal muscle mass showed a significant increase immediately after EAAT.Balance, stability, and muscle activity during the gait cycle remained stable throughout the study. Conclusion:This study suggests that a short-period EAAT program can lead to long-term improvements in gross motor function for children with CP.