Activation of lower limb muscles with different types of mount in hippotherapy

Publication date: Available online 30 March 2017
Source:Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Author(s): Mariane Fernandes Ribeiro, Ana Paula Espindula, Domingos Emanuel Bevilacqua Júnior, Jéssica Aparecida Tolentino, Carolina Fioroni Ribeiro da Silva, Márcia Fernandes Araújo, Alex Abadio Ferreira, Vicente de Paula Antunes Teixeira
ObjectivesTo analyze muscle activation of lower limbs (LL) of subjects in hippotherapy sessions.MethodsThe study included 10 healthy subjects, five male and five female, with an average age of 24.03 (±4.06) years. Subjects underwent four hippotherapy sessions of 30 minutes with interval of one week, and each session was performed with a different type of mount material in the following order: 1^st performed with saddle and feet in the stirrups (S1), 2^nd with saddle and feet off the stirrups (S2), 3^rd with blanket and feet off the stirrup (S3) and 4^th with blanket and feet in the stirrups (S4). Surface electromyographies were performed at 1, 10, 20 and 30 minutes of session, and the electrodes were placed on muscle bellies bilaterally on the muscles rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and tibialis anterior.ResultsThe analysis of muscle activity during these four sessions showed a significant difference in muscle recruitment in LL, and sessions with blanket and feet in the stirrups provided greater muscle activation of quadriceps and tibialis anterior with the horse at step gait (p=0.0002).ConclusionThe results suggest that feet positioned in the stirrups is a relevant factor for greater muscle recruitment in LL to maintain postural balance while riding, especially using a blanket as mount material for ride a horse.



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