Designing a Therapeutic Mechanical Horse

Hippotherapy is a strategy that uses the movement of a horse to treat individuals with any of a variety of neuro-musculoskeletal disabilities including cerebral palsy, paralysis, traumatic brain injury, stroke and others. The patients’ overall treatment program includes time riding on a therapeutic horse under the direction of a physical therapist. The premise behind hippotherapy is that the movement of the horse drives the patients’ body, and particularly the hips, in a pattern that is similar to natural human movements such as healthy human gait [1][2][3][4]. The rhythmic motion of the riding surface engages and challenges the patient to actively anticipate, compensate, and adapt in order to maintain balance. Hippotherapy treatment is believed to help improve flexibility, strength, muscle symmetry, balance and postural control, and motor function [1][2][4][5][6].