The Effect of Exercise by Mechanical Hippotherapy Device on Postural Stability and Balance in Stroke

Stroke,one of the leading cause of death, is caused by ischemia or hemorrhage. It results in neurological deficits such as hemiplegia. Hemiplegia show disability characterized loss of motor, sensory and cognitive function. Reduced postural control and balance stability results gait disturbances such as asymmetric weight bearing, risk of falling and imbalances. It also shows increased energy expenditure, decreased independence on quality of life and limited mobility. Physical therapy can be effective method for solving these problems. Hippotherapy, also known as horseback riding therapy, is a form of physical therapy strategy that uses equine movement. The concept of hippotherapy is to use a horse as a therapeutic tool, and it is based on similarities in gait between the human and horse. The horse's gait provides patients having motor disabilities with rhythmic and repetitive movements similar to human walking, thereby giving them training opportunities to improve posture, balance, and strength. Even though it has many effect on solving these problems, hippotherapy centers are not enough. Due to climate and environmental situations, hippotherapy devices were improved and had similar effects on patients with stroke. In literature, these device mostly used on cerebral palsy, but investigator wants to use hippotherapy device on patient with Hemiplegia. For these reasons, the effects of exercises by mechanical hippotherapy device on postural control and balance will be investigated.