Programs:
For children play is serious learning.
Play is the work of childhood.
- Fred Rogers
Occupational Therapy with the use of Hippotherapy
Play & Motion provides private nature based occupational therapy services with the use of hippotherapy when appropriate. Mounted sessions with the use of equine movement is used as a part of larger plan of care within an occupational therapy session. Mounted sessions are used when appropriate and are not always included in an OT session. While I try to incorporate it for the majority of sessions, sometimes ground work or other nature based activities will be used if clinically necessary.
From the American Hippotherapy Association:
Hippotherapy refers to how occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement. Hippotherapy is used as a therapy tool to engage sensory, neuro-motor and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes.
The average horse walks at a rate of approximately 100 steps per minute. Just 5 minutes on a walking horse represents 500 neuro-motor inputs to the patient. In a typical therapy session, 15 to 25 minutes of equine movement, or more, may be incorporated by the treating therapist – which represents 1500 to 2500 neuro-motor inputs to the patient.
Incorporating hippotherapy into an occupational therapy session can serve as a powerful tool for the facilitation of the key neuro-motor systems that support function. Skillfully applied equine movement, under the direction of a therapist, can offer the patient the opportunity for complex motor learning. Hippotherapy is combined with other standard therapy tools/strategies in an intervention plan designed to address the treatment needs of the client.
Strength, Muscle Coordination and Sensory Processing used for walking, talking, and the use of fine motor skills for activities of daily living and general attention to tasks have all been shown to be positively impacted by equine movement as a facilitation tool/strategy, when under the direction of a therapist, as part of a larger total plan of care. In addition, increased motivation and participation in treatment and social emotional benefits have been reported.
Facility Based Services
Treatment strategies include improvement in Cognitive skills (e.g., attention, ability to follow directions), Fine & Gross Motor Coordination, Strength, Endurance, Grapho-motor, Sensory Processing, Self-Help Skills (e.g., dressing, grooming/hygiene), Motor Planning, Visual-Motor Skills). Therapeutic sessions are play based and follow the needs of the child.
Evaluations include standardized assessment tools, parent interviews, and clinical observation. Treatment plans are created specifically to clients' needs and interests.
Skill assessments include and are not limited to:
Cognitive skills (e.g., attention, ability to follow directions), Fine & Gross Motor Coordination, Strength, Endurance, Grapho-motor, Sensory Processing, Self-Help Skills (e.g., dressing, grooming/hygiene), Motor Planning, and Visual-Motor Skills).