Objective :
To measure the improvement of static balance in elderly individuals, through hippotherapy practive.
Materials and Methods :
Experimental study, clinical, pre and post-test. Ten female individuals, aged between 60 and 74 years, living in Caxias do Sul, State of Rio Grande do Sul,, were evaluated in the stabilometric, before and after the application of the physiotherapeutic attendance program. This consisted of eight sessions of hippotherapy, twice a week, with 30 minutes each. Data were analyzed by means of average speed of displacement of CP (center of pressure), mean displacement of X axle of the CP and mean displacement of Y axle of the CP. The statistic test of T-student was also used. The significance level accepted was P<0,05.
Results :
In the comparison of results before and after hippotherapy, it was observed significative difference (P=0,002) in the antero-posterior direction. In the medium-lateral direction and displacement speed it was observed a non-significative difference (P=0,603) and (P=0,414), respectively.
Conclusion:
Healthy elderly people have alterations in balance. Hippotherapy was able to improve the static balance and, consequently, to reduce the risk of fall.
Key words:
Physical Therapy (Specialty); Physical Therapy Modalities; Musculoskeletal Equilibrium; Exercise movement techniques; Epidemiology Experimental; Women; Middle aged; Aged; Caxias do Sul City, RS