Hypotherapy, also called hypotherapy or hypotherapy, is a type of horse therapy that serves to stimulate the development of the mind and body, used to complement the treatment of people with disabilities or special needs, such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, hyperactivity, autism, children with severe feelings or difficulty concentrating, for example.
This type of therapy for people with special needs should be performed in a suitable and specialized environment, since the horse must be domesticated, docile and well trained to stimulate the development of the person and not commit treatment, during all sessions it is important, in addition to the horse trainer, the presence of a therapist, who can be a specialized physical therapist , a psychomotorist or speech therapist, for example, to guide exercises.
- In general.
- Sessions last about 30 minutes.
- Are held once a week and can be attended to by people with special needs regardless of age.
- Unless contraindications are available.
Horseback riding therapy is an excellent treatment option, especially for children with special needs, as horseback riding exercises alter the response of the central nervous system and improve posture and perception of movement. The main benefits of hypotherapy are:
In addition, hypotherapy makes the person more sociable, facilitating the process of group integration, which is very important.
Horseback riding works well in autistic patients because it improves social interactions, language and emotional dominance, in fact, the child learns to overcome certain fears, improves facial expression, looks into the eyes, makes waves to say goodbye and seeks to befriend those present in the sessions.
However, each child has their needs and, as a result, exercises can vary from child to child, as well as when results may begin to be noticed.Learn about other treatment options for autism.
Hypotherapy can be used as a therapeutic resource in physiotherapy because it provides many postural benefits because the horse’s gait causes a series of reactions in the patient’s body, always doing so in search of its own balance.
The horse is able to transmit rhythmic impulses to the patient’s legs and trunk, resulting in contractions and relaxations that facilitate the perception of the body itself, the notion of laterality and the maintenance of balance.
The results can be seen in a few sessions and, as the treatment is seen playful for parents and the patient, the feeling of well-being is easily observed at the end of the session.