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- Title
Friedreich's Ataxia and Gait Changes through Participation in Therapeutic Horseback Riding.
- Authors
Gilliland, Katherine J.; Knight, Adam C.
- Abstract
This study examined potential benefits from participation in therapeutic horseback riding for an individual with Friedreich's Ataxia (FA). FA is an autosomal recessive neurological disorder with a side effect being gait ataxia. The participant's gait was analyzed using Dartfish™ video software before and after two separate 6-week riding sessions, separated by a five-month lay-off. A significant difference in stride length (p < 0.05) was found, with a decrease occurring in the second riding session (0.99 ± 0.10 m to 0.74 ± 0.19 m). Analysis of the other variables revealed no significant differences in gait before and after each individual riding session, nor were they observed from the first day to the last day of each six week session, or intersession observations. The decrease in stride length may indicate a decrement in stability as the disease progresses, but the lack of significant differences in joint angles may indicate therapeutic horseback riding helped prevent some of the decrements caused by FA.
- Subjects
FRIEDREICH'S ataxia; GAIT in humans; EQUESTRIANISM; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
Clinical Kinesiology (Online Edition), 2012, Vol 66, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
0896-9620
- Publication type
Article