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.
Age range
6 Years – 17 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
ABILHAND-KIDS
Timeframe: week 0 and week 9 (pre- and post-treatment)
Goal Attainment Scale (GAS)
Timeframe: week 0 and week 9 (pre- and post-treatment)
Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY)
Timeframe: week 0 and week 9 (pre- and post-treatment)
Bruininks-Oseretski Test of Motor Proficiency - Third Edition
Timeframe: week 0 and week 9 (pre- and post-treatment)
Feasibility of study protocol
Timeframe: 12-month study period