| Summary: | [Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the the effects of hippotherapy on gait
and balance ability in patients with stroke. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty stroke patients
were randomly divided into a hippotherapy group and a treadmill group and they conducted
exercise for eight weeks. [Results] Berg Balance Scale score, gait velocity, and step
length asymmetry ratio were significantly improved in the group receiving hippotherapy
training. However, in the group receiving treadmill training, only step length asymmetry
ratio was significantly improved. In the comparison between the hippotherapy group and
treadmill group, there was no significant difference in Berg Balance Scale score, but a
significant difference was found in gait velocity and step length asymmetry ratio.
[Conclusion] The results of this study indicated that hippotherapy is a helpful treatment
for stroke patients.
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