Making Maximum Use of the Physical Influence of Equine Movement

Overview

Hippotherapy is unique among methods of propioceptive neuro-muscular facilitation, for its complexity in the treatment of the motor system, which modern physiotherapy is interested in. Its complexity goes beyond classical physiotherapy so that the physiotherapist has to acquire new knowledge and skills. He has to understand in detail the biomechanics of the horse’s movements and its application to individual patients, in particular to their correct sitting posture. The physiotherapist must experiences the effect of the horse’s movement on his own organism, to be able to choose the right horse for every individual case.

Key words:
hippotherapy, bio-psycho-social influence, the biomechanism of the horse’s movements, facilitatory elements in hippotherapy, correct sitting, pelvic differences according to sex, the experience of the horse’s movements by the physiotherapist