Exploring Use of Hippotherapy as a Treatment Tool

Hippotherapy (hippo is Greek for horse) continues to gain recognition in our profession, but several misconceptions exist about this approach used by speech-language pathologists and other clinicians. Hippotherapy is a treatment tool—it is not a type of treatment. Compare it to using a swing or ball or other similar tool in sessions. Also used by occupational therapists and physical therapists, the tool involves placing clients on horses while providing intervention. The approach aims to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to enhance outcomes, according to the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA). A number of peer-reviewed sources explore the use of equine movement in treatment for a variety of disorders. Untangling the terminology Don’t confuse hippotherapy with adaptive horseback riding lessons, also known as therapeutic horseback riding. In fact, while SLPs face scope-of-practice infringement issues on a variety of fronts, we need to understand—and explain to clients or potential clients—that treatment provided by SLPs differs vastly from riding lessons provided by adaptive/therapeutic riding instructors. Horsing Around: Hippotherapy for People With Communication Disorders Holding the Reins A variety of terms—such as “horse therapy,” “equine therapy,” “equine-assisted therapy,” and “equine-assisted therapies and activities” further exacerbate confusion surrounding this issue. Simply using accurate terminology to describe the dif...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Tags: Health Care Private Practice Slider Speech-Language Pathology Feeding Disorders Language Disorders Speech Disorders Swallowing Disorders Voice Disorders Source Type: blogs