The effects of hippotherapy on pain level and lumbopelvic motion and stability in individuals with chronic low back pain

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hippotherapy on pain levels, lumbopelvic mobility, and lumbopelvic stability in individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP). The study included 36 volunteers with chronic lower back pain, divided into two groups of 18 individuals. One group underwent self-exercise training, while the other received hippotherapy plus self-exercise training for four weeks, with a six-week follow-up period. The primary outcomes were 1) pain level, 2) lumbopelvic mobility as measured by Schober's Test and inertia measurement unit (IMU), and 3) lumbopelvic stability with pressure biofeedback unit (PBU). They were assessed four times: week 0 (before treatment), week 2nd (during treatment), week 4th (after the course of treatment), and week 6th (follow-up). The study revealed that the hippotherapy plus self-exercise training group had significantly improvement in pain level (p<0.001) and lumbopelvic stability (p=0.001) compared to the self-exercise training group. Furthermore, within the hippotherapy plus self-exercise training group, there was a significantly decreased in pain level (p<0.05), and increased the lumbopelvic stability after four weeks (p=0.002) and six weeks of study (p=0.008). Therefore hippotherapy can be used to improve the efficacy of self-exercise therapy, regarding the management of individuals with chronic back pain, particularly in lowering pain and enhancing spine and pelvic stability.