The Difference Between Hippotherapy and Equine Therapy

From Down syndrome to cerebral palsy to autism and more, many people have benefitted from using horseback riding therapy to effectively treat various conditions. This type of treatment stimulates the brain and simultaneously activates the use of thousands of muscles. Horseback riding therapy can be broken into two categories: hippotherapy and equine therapy. Understanding the difference between hippotherapy and equine therapy will help you decide which area to explore for your specific needs.

Hippotherapy

The Greek word for horse is Hippos; therefore, hippotherapy is broken down to therapeutic uses of horses. It addresses the mental health of patients. This sort of equine-assisted therapy is believed to use the horse’s movements to create neurologic changes that help improve posture, balance, strength, and coordination. It addresses the physical developments necessary to strengthen an individual’s bodily functions and can be used with young children and seniors looking to become more stable. Hippotherapy can help with flexibility, core strength, coordination, and walking for people with MS, a head injury, spinal cord injury, or those who require stroke therapy.

Equine Therapy

This is also known as Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT), and it includes treatment using equine activities to promote physical, occupational, or emotional growth for people suffering from various disorders. Equine therapy is more about addressing an individual’s mental health, and it leaves the physical focus to hippotherapy. Equine therapy is said to be helpful for people with dementia, ADHD, anxiety, depression, or developmental delays. Both types of horseback riding therapy benefit the participant. The differences between hippotherapy and equine therapy go to show how encompassing these movements and practices can be in different ways using similar techniques. Chariot Innovations has harnessed many of the benefits of this therapy to create the MiraColt machine, which allows individuals to complete horseback riding treatment from a controlled environment, such as a therapy office. The beginning stages of both equine therapy and hippotherapy can be difficult. Having more control over the environment and being able to mentally, emotionally, and physically support an individual during the process can be incredibly advantageous in seeing results over a short period of time.

What Kind of Therapy Is Needed After a Stroke

Having a stroke or helping someone who has suffered from one can make for a difficult recovery. The effects associated with strokes vary greatly depending on the type and severity of the stroke. Knowing the extent of the damage caused during the occurrence will allow you to make a plan for rehabilitation. A consulting physician will help you understand what kind of therapy is needed after a stroke.

Warning Signs

For someone who is experiencing a stroke, there could be a range of warning signs. Understanding what’s happening when you detect them will help the patient to be treated faster, leading to a better chance of recovery. These are some of the warning signs of a stroke:

  • Slurring words or having trouble speaking. Instances in which you are finding it difficult to understand what the affected person is saying when it’s ordinarily not a problem.
  • Someone who is disoriented.
  • The affected person reporting experiencing paralysis or numbness in the face, arm, or leg. An inability to raise both arms, or drooping on one side of the mouth may be an indication. Strokes often affect one side of the body.
  • Blurred, blackened, or double-vision, thus making it difficult to see out of both eyes.
  • A sudden and severe headache that could come with vomiting, dizziness, or extreme confusion.
  • Difficulty walking, loss of balance, stumbling, or loss of coordination.

If any of these signs are occurring, it’s time to seek medical attention. Even if the symptoms come and go or subside altogether, emergency services should be contacted immediately. The longer you wait for treatment, the greater the potential for disability and brain damage following a stroke.

Three Main Types of Stroke

Strokes are debilitating and can cause death. The good news is that in current times, fewer Americans die from a stroke than they have in the past. This is due to everyone’s awareness of the signs of a stroke and acting quickly.
Ischemic
An ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. As the brain’s blood vessels narrow or become blocked, blood flow becomes severely reduced (ischemia). The blood vessels get blocked or become narrow due to fatty deposits building up in the blood. The clots traveling through the bloodstream get lodged in the brain’s blood vessels.
Hemorrhagic
Hemorrhagic strokes occur due to a leak or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. It can happen due to conditions that affect blood vessels. Less commonly, brain bleeds can occur due to a rupture of an abnormal tangle when blood vessel walls are thin. Causes of a hemorrhagic stroke include:
  • High blood pressure left uncontrolled
  • Taking too many blood thinners
  • Weak spots in the walls of blood vessels
  • Extreme head trauma
  • Protein deposits in the walls of blood vessels that can cause weakness of the walls
  • An ischemic stroke that leads to hemorrhaging
Transient Ischemic (Mini-Stroke)
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a period of temporary stroke symptoms. TIAs don’t typically cause permanent damage. When there’s a temporary decrease in blood supply to a particular part of the brain, the affected person could be experiencing a TIA. It could last as little as five minutes. Similar to the ischemic stroke, it occurs if a clot blocks or slows blood flow to a particular part of your nervous system. The affected person should seek medical attention even if their symptoms have improved. A physician has to determine whether it was a TIA or a stroke. Additionally, having a transient ischemic attack increases the risk of having another stroke later.

Risk Factors

Making yourself aware of possible risk factors that could cause a stroke will help you avoid certain behaviors that increase the likelihood of a stroke. You should be on the lookout for the following signs and symptoms:

Lifestyle
  • Obesity
  • Physical idleness
  • Heavy consumption of alcohol
  • Use of drugs, such as cocaine or meth-amphetamines
Medical Conditions
  • High blood pressure or cholesterol
  • First and secondhand cigarette smoke exposure
  • Diabetes
  • Sleep apnea
  • Heart conditions
  • Family history of stroke, heart attack, or TIA
Additional Risks
  • People older than fifty-five years of age
  • African Americans are at higher risk than others
  • Men are at a higher risk than women
  • Hormone therapies can increase the risk of a stroke

What To Do

You now know the different types of strokes and their warning signs. Risk factors are important to note, but some medical conditions are unavoidable. As previously discussed, every minute counts, so any indication that you or someone near you is experiencing stroke symptoms needs immediate medical attention.

Most often when a stroke occurs, the rehabilitation centers around physical therapy. This helps the patient relearn gross motor activities such as walking, balancing, standing, sitting, and laying down, in addition to physically changing movements. Some therapy may be done at home on a daily basis, while other therapy options require outpatient procedures.

Many have found that equine or hippotherapy (horseback riding therapy) has been immensely helpful in regaining control of the body. The muscles from one’s foot all the way up to the brain have to work simultaneously to keep the rider on the horse. Not only is balance, core, back, leg, and arm strength improved, but this type of therapy also stimulates the brain. As the brain starts to work to repair areas of the body where there is a delay or lack of control, the recovery begins to become evident.

For those who prefer to keep their therapy within the office, Chariot Innovations has created assistive technology to help achieve horseback riding therapy benefits without the need for a real horse. The MiraColt is hippotherapy simulator equipment that mimics the walking gait of a horse to give those working to rehabilitate their bodies and minds the ability and option to receive treatment like this in a controlled environment with support from nearby professionals.

Rehabilitative therapy usually begins 48 hours after the patient’s condition has stabilized. It starts by having the person attempt independent movement to try to overcome weakness or partial paralysis. Using hippotherapy to strengthen different areas can be done at any pace. Gradually releasing the professional’s need to support the patient’s body as they start being able to stabilize themselves will require less assistance.

Having a stroke isn’t the end of the road. Of course, the level of recovery depends on the severity of the event. Additionally, it is very important to take the warning signs of a stroke seriously and get to a physician as soon as possible. Knowing how to avoid any unnecessary risk is key in preventing a stroke. Understanding what kind of therapy is needed after a stroke will help make the recovery process easier.

Caring for a Child With Down Syndrome

Caring for a child with Down syndrome will, of course, come with its challenges. Some days are sure to be harder than others. However, there will be beautiful days too, where you hold your kiddo tight and you know that you are doing your best. It will require patience, understanding, and empathy amongst other things, but you’ve got this.

Continue Your Education

Keep yourself informed to ensure that you are up to date on research regarding Down syndrome. There are always new developments in chromosomal conditions. The more you know, the better you can care for your child. Being in the know should offer you both a better quality of life.

Establish a Plan

Often, we are able to detect Down syndrome before birth, giving us time to make an appropriate birth plan with the doctor and within our immediate families. If you are expecting a child that may have this condition, be prepared for a variety of tests following the birth to check your baby’s heart, hearing, vision, and health in general. It may require a slightly longer hospital stay for your baby but knowing what to expect may ease your mind a bit.

Foster Their Growth and Development

As your child begins to grow, you’ll learn a lot about the way he or she is developing cognitively and physically. There is such a wide range of capabilities when it comes to Down syndrome. Being involved in occupational, speech, and special therapies that help strengthen the body and other skills is helpful. Horseback riding therapy has proven to help immensely in core strengthening, brain stimulation, posture, balance, and even speech. Chariot Innovations’ hippotherapy simulatorallows your child to activate the use of thousands of muscles simultaneously from the comfort of a controlled therapy office.

Join a Support Group

Joining a support group can be helpful, even if you choose not to actively participate. There are many people in the world going through similar situations. Sometimes listening to others’ tribulations and triumphs can shed light on instances you experience. If you do participate and share your own breakdowns and wins, you may be helping someone else, perhaps without even knowing it.

Allow Independence

There are bound to be times when your child needs help—that goes for any parent in any situation. When possible, let your kiddo be in control. Due to limitations, children with Down syndrome can sometimes feel out of control of their lives. Allowing your child to make some choices, take small risks, and problem solve can be very beneficial for you both. Parenting is never easy, whether you are caring for a child with Down syndrome or not. There are highs and lows, regardless. The more you can prepare yourself, lend support, and seek support for your own well-being, the better. Ask as many questions as you have and stay informed so that you and your child live life to the fullest.