Hippotherapy: horses treat people's diseases

Hippotherapy is a wellness program, It is very popular in rehabilitation world practice.

Its uniqueness lies in the physical, psychological and emotionally positive effects on patients whose diseases are neurological, mental, physical and other serious disorders.

Hippotherapy: the essence and benefits of communicating with horses ^

Hippotherapy is a rehabilitation technique, the essence of which is to communicate sick people with horses.

About how horses are treated, previously written in ancient Greek times by the ancient physician Hippocrates, who argued that direct contact with these animals helps sick people to go much faster and more efficiently to recovery. In his opinion, horse riding freed patients from dark thoughts and caused bright, cheerful and positive emotions.

The essence of hippotherapy, based on the fact that horses treat people, is as follows:

• Horse riding has a good load on almost all the muscles of the body - then relaxing them, then straining;
• Gradually, there is an improvement or restoration of lost skills with disrupted functions;
• Coordination develops with balance, the physical form improves;
• When practicing hippotherapy, psychological harmony is achieved.

Treatment with hippotherapy consists not only of riding, but also of direct communication and care of the horse, which allows you to remove stress, get rid of stress, feelings of fear or anxiety.

Hippotherapy helps to develop the following personal qualities - mindfulness, sensitivity, quick reaction, overcoming fears, gaining confidence, getting rid of aggression, excitability and isolation.

What diseases treat horses: indications and contraindications for hippotherapy ^

Hippotherapy is particularly effective in the following diseases:

• Neuropathies, neuroses and other diseases of the nervous system;
• cerebral palsy, various forms of paralysis, disorders of the musculoskeletal system;
• Autism, Down's syndrome, poliomyelitis;
• Speech disorders;
• Sensory lesions leading to blindness, deafness;
• Strokes, injuries( spinal, craniocerebral);
• Violation of posture.
• Scoliosis of the first degree.

However, horseback riding has a number of contraindications that exclude the possibility of hippotherapy in the following cases:

• Friability and brittleness of bones - osteomyelitis, osteoporosis;
• Hemophilia;
• Epilepsy;
• Allergic reactions to wool horses;
• Acute forms of neurological, mental, cardiovascular diseases;
• Scoliosis of the third, fourth degree.

Hippotherapy with cerebral palsy is considered to be one of the most promising and effective treatment methods that have a beneficial effect on small patients. Thanks to horseback riding and communication with the animal, most of the motor and psychological disorders inherent in cerebral palsy are eliminated.

Horseback riding is one of the additional restorative techniques of hippotherapy, actively used in the rehabilitation of patients who have had a heart attack or stroke. The use of hippotherapy during this period helps restore muscle tone, balance, coordination of movements and positive psycho-emotional state.

Hippotherapy can be used not only with the diseases shown for it, but it also helps to cope superfluously with excess weight and even cellulite. To do this, therapeutic horse riding to combat obesity and cellulite consists of specially designed diverse exercises that improve blood circulation, train muscles and strengthen muscles.

In addition, the benefit of hippotherapy is that the horse's muscles transmit certain vibrations to the rider, which create a deep, intense and gentle massage effect with warming up.

The fact that horses treat human diseases, tells many facts of miraculous healing. One of the known miracle cures happened to the athlete - Denmark's horse Liz Kharel, who was struck by a terrible disease - poliomyelitis. The girl for several years struggled with weakened hands and paralyzed legs, and nine years later she became one of the prize-winners in equestrian competitions at the Olympic Games in the Finnish capital Helsinki.

Hippotherapy for disabled children: testimonials, exercises, video ^

Hippotherapy for children with cerebral palsy and disabled children, which due to psychological or physical circumstances is limited in their ability to communicate with their full-fledged peers, gives particularly striking results.

Hippotherapy becomes available to children from the age of three and is indicated for diseases such as autism, the effects of various trauma, Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, impaired posture, mental retardation, mental or physical development.

For healthy purposes, select obedient, friendly and calm horses that do not cause fear, stress and anxiety in sick children.

Healthy positive result from horse walks and communication with the animal is achieved due to the following factors:

• Reflector develops a sense of balance;
• Includes affected muscles;
• Natural thermal and acupressure massage of legs, hands and spine;
• The necessary motor skills are acquired;
• Concentrates attention;
• Improves the emotional state.

Direct contact with the horse helps to remove fears in children, develop goodwill and love, get rid of aggression, anger and excitability. The development of fine motor skills with the help of hippotherapy in disabled children occurs due to the forced accomplishment of various actions by hands, fingers and feet. When riding, the child has sensory organs and almost all muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints.

Exercises of hippotherapy for the development of the musculature of the back, spine and thighs

• Sitting on the horse facing forward carefully to sort out the reins, stroking the horse and its mane( motor development);
• Sitting on the horse with his face forward to stretch his arms out to the sides, then gently turn the body to the right, to the left;
• Sitting on horse back facing gently to produce inclines forward, backward;
• Sitting on a horse across her back cautiously catching, then throwing off a gym ball;
• Sitting on the horse face to take hold of the reins and slowly take a few steps forward, then stop for a few seconds and again to repeat the movement.

Reviews on treatment with hippotherapy from patients and parents of sick children are mostly positive. Many confirm the fact that this method really helps improve the physical, psychological and emotional state of adults and children with disabilities.