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Billie Huskey -> Re: Down Syndrome Patients Versus Horses (May 7, 2002 12:58:00 PM)
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Fitpatrick and Tabay, 1998 include Down Syndrome as a disorder that will benefit from therapeutic riding and the contraindications include uncontrolled epilepsy, severe mental retardation, fragile bone, structural scoliosis with a curvature of greater than thirty degrees. However, in working with a 2 year old with Down Syndrome her mother stated that she was advised against therapeutic riding before atlanto-axial instability had been ruled out. At that point I would probably suspect that the term hippotherapy would be most appropriate for young children with Down Sydrome. Hippotherapy and therapeutic horseback riding are two different techniques. Hippotherapy, unlike therapeutic riding is not aimed in improving riding skills. Hippotherapy is usually performed on a sheepskin or soft pad rather than a saddle. The therapist utilizes various positions on the horse (supine, prone, side-lying) and with the experienced hippotherapist the treatment would be modified for the safety of the child with potential atlanto-axial instability. Just a thought not a fact.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by jon_gapuzan:
I wanna know if it is true that horseback riding is not advisable for Down Syndrome patients? As we know, Down Sydrome px has lax atlanto-occipital joint and this would lead to subluxation or dislocation of the joint from flexion and extension forces brought on by horseback riding. Pls say something about this.[/QUOTE]
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