Making Strides Physiotherapy offers hippotherapy, Physiotherapy using a horse's movement as a rehab tool to achieve therapeutic goals. Hippotherapy has been used to treat patients with neurological or other disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, head injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, and so much more.

Why use horses?

1. During ambulation the horse provides a rhytmic movement which stimulates anterior, and posterior swinging movements and mimic the movement of the human pelvis when walking
2. Movements of the horse encourage the patient to achieve a proper balance, and posture
3. The horse, and those around provide the patient with a large spectrum of sensory, and motor input

Hippotherapy shortens recovery times, and improves balance and muscle control of the patient. Slow, and rhytmic movements of the horse’s body have therapeutic values, and ensure development of paraspinal muscles. Multifaceted swinging rhythm of a horse gait effects the bones of patient’s pelvic girdle twice more strongly than the gait of a patient. The patients are responding to this entertaining treatment modality with greater compliance, and enthusiasm. Thus, hippotherapy improves balance, mobility, and posture