RECRUITING

PT for Montana Children With NMD Using Hippotherapy and the Equine Environment

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to determine if physical therapy incorporating horses can improve the motor skills of the arms in children 6-17 years old with neuromotor disorders (such as cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, or spina bifida) compared to standard play-based physical therapy. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is the study protocol feasible and acceptable for participants, that investigators could apply them to a larger trial? 2. Do participants make improvements toward their goals for motor function, arm use, and participation in life situations following treatment, and is it different between the experimental and comparative intervention groups? 3. What are the physiological, behavioral, and emotional responses of children receiving physical therapy incorporating horses, versus those receiving standard physical therapy? Researchers will compare the experimental group who receive physical therapy incorporating horses to the comparative intervention group who receive standard play-based physical therapy to see if there is a difference in outcomes. Participants will complete a pre- and post-intervention assessment of their motor function and participation in life situations. Participants will receive physical therapy twice a week for 8 weeks for the intervention. In both groups, physiological, behavioral, and emotional responses to the interventions will be measured in 4 total sessions, 1 each at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8.

Official Title

Physical Therapy for Montana Children With Neuromotor Disorders Using Hippotherapy and the Equine Environment

Quick Facts

Study Start:2025-05-01
Study Completion:2026-04-30
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT06887647

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Ages Eligible for Study:6 Years to 17 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No
Standard Ages:CHILD
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. * 1) 6-17 years old; 2) Diagnosed NMD with upper extremity impairment; 3) Able to follow simple verbal instructions in English; 4) Able to tolerate sitting on a horse continuously for 30 minutes; and 5) Meet Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) standards for participating in mounted activities.
  1. * 1) Fear of or aversion to horses; 2) Weight over 200lbs (to protect safety and wellbeing of therapists and equines) 3) Participation in a horseback-riding program in the past 3 months; 4) Lacking independent head control; and 5) Caregivers unable to speak and read English.

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations (Sites)

University of Montana
Missoula, Montana, 59812
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: University of Montana

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2025-05-01
Study Completion Date2026-04-30

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2025-05-01
Study Completion Date2026-04-30

Terms related to this study

Keywords Provided by Researchers

  • physical therapy
  • hippotherapy
  • pediatric
  • motor function
  • participation
  • upper extremity function
  • equine environment
  • neurmotor disorder

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • Neuromotor Impairments