TERAPEUTILINE RATSUTAMINE SCLEROSIS MULTIPLEX PATSIENTIDE REHABILITATSIOONIS
Therapeutic horseback riding in rehabilitation for patients with multiple sclerosis
Reet Linkberg, Grete-Brit Kuusik, Tuuli Bürkland¹ ¹ SA TÜK spordimeditsiini ja taastusravi kliinik Abstract The aim of the final thesis was to describe the influence of therapeutic horseback riding on patients with multiple sclerosis. The research study was theoretical and based on scientific literature. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a multifactorial autoimmune demyelinating disease that causes progressive neurological disability. Its aetiology remains unclear but it is the most common disease causing disability in young adults. Depending on the lesions of the central nervous system, the disease causes a wide range of physical, psychological and cognitive symptoms that affect the quality of life of patients. The variable clinical picture of the disease and unknown cause make treating of the patients complicated. There is no complete cure for the disease and current intervention techniques are inefficient. Therapeutic horseback riding allows the patient to work together with a horse in a non-clinical environment which benefits both physical and mental health of patients. Therapeutic riding techniques have many positive effects like improving postural control, balance and the walking function, regulating muscle tone, reducing depression etc., and it is thus an appropriate method of therapy for patients with neurological disorders. Therapeutic horseback riding for people with MS is a multi-beneficial treatment method. The main results of the current thesis showed that patients with MS can benefit from therapeutic riding by improving their balance, postural stability, the walking function and mental well-being and thus improve their 286
