Electromyographic analysis of trunk and lower limb activation in children with cerebral palsy during gait and hippotherapy sessions.

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral Palsy (CP), the most common childhood physical disability, results from brain damage from various causes and affects movement, posture, and balance.

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the impact of hippotherapy on the electrical activity of the trunk and lower limbs in children with CP, both during hippotherapy and independent gait, before and after 15 sessions.

METHODS

Nine children aged 8-15 years (10.75 ± 2.49) participated in the study. Muscle activity in the trunk and lower limbs was assessed using surface electromyography. Data were collected during independent gait and hippotherapy before the first and after the 15th session.

RESULTS

During human gait, electrical activity was higher in both pre- and post-treatment stages. Pre-treatment results were significant for the lower limbs: right (p = 0.008) and left (p = 0.006) lower limbs, as well as the right (p = 0.017) and left (p = 0.001) tibialis anterior. Post-treatment significance was seen in the multifidus (bilaterally), left rectus femoris, and right tibialis anterior (p = 0.012), and also in the right rectus femoris, left tibialis anterior (p = 0.001), and left abdominal (p = 0.036). After treatment, there was a reduction in electrical activity in the lower limbs and bilateral multifidus, with a significant decrease in the right tibialis anterior (p = 0.042). Additionally, abdominal muscles showed increased activation post-treatment (bilaterally). During human gait, most muscles, including the bilateral abdominals, showed increased activity post-treatment, though the differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

There was a reduction in electromyographic activity of the lower limbs and multifidus during hippotherapy, but increased muscle electrical activity in the trunk and lower limbs during independent gait compared to hippotherapy.