Efficacy of hippotherapy simulator exercise program in patients with stroke: a randomized single-blind clinical trial

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hippotherapy simulator on balance, postural control, mobility, functional capacity and independence level in people with stroke. Methods: This study involved 26 people with stroke aged 18–65, who were randomly assigned to a Hippotherapy Simulator Group (HSG; n = 13) and a Conventional Exercise Group (CEG; n = 13). Patients underwent assessments using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PAS-S), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI), 2-Minute Walking Test (2-MWT), and Barthel Daily Living Activity Index (BI) to evaluate balance, postural control, mobility, functional capacity, and independence before and after treatment. In the HSG, participants received 30 sessions of conventional exercises and hippotherapy simulator–a mechanical and robotic equipment with a dynamic saddle simulating horse movement–exercises over 6 weeks. Meanwhile, the CEG underwent 30 sessions of conventional exercises alone for 6 weeks. Results: In the post-therapy evaluation between groups, BBS (p = 0.004) and 2-MWT (p < 0.001) scores were higher in HSG compared to CEG. However, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of PAS-S, RMI, TUG and BI scores (p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences were found between BBS, PAS-S, RMI, TUG, BI and 2-MWT scores before and after treatment in both groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Hippotherapy simulator can be added to conventional exercises to improve balance and functional capacity in people with stroke.