| Abstrakt: |
There is increasing use of physical therapy for both horse and rider but limited scientific research linking the horse, the rider and their symmetry together. Pelvic asymmetry can indicate musculoskeletal imbalance and affect performance. Therapy may have an impact on the pelvic asymmetry of both the horse and the rider as independent parties. This study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that single horse/rider combinations who both have regular (4 or more times per year) physical therapy will have improved pelvic symmetry rather than horse/rider combinations that have no physical therapy. Fifty single horse (age 6–14yrs) and rider (age 18–45yrs) combinations (minimum 6-mo partners) were selected with inclusion/exclusion criteria. Treatment group (n = 25) horse and rider received regular physical therapy (chiropractic, osteopathy, physiotherapy or sports massage therapy). Control group (n = 25) pairs received no therapy ever or over 1 year prior. Data collection was blinded to groups. On level ground, triplicate measurements of horse tuber coxae (TC) heights (stood square) and rider anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) (feet@30cm) to floor were taken using a plumb line. Symmetry indices (SI) were calculated from raw data. Data were tested for normality (Shapiro Wilk test) and Mann Whitney test, regression analysis tests used with level of statistical significance at P < 0.05. There was a significant difference between treatment and control groups of pelvic symmetry values for horses (mean SI ± SD: control 4.69 ± 2.48, treatment 2.35 ± 0.61, P = 0.00001) and riders (mean SI ± SD: control 3.4 ± 1.25, treatment 2.11 ± 0.88, P = 0.00003). There was no significant correlation between horse TC and rider ASIS asymmetry means for treatment group (r2 = 0.04, F = 0.95, P = 0.34) or control group (r2 = 0.01, F = 0.29, P = 0.6). This study provides positive evidence that regular use of physical therapy for horses and riders may improve pelvic asymmetry of the horse and rider individually. This is a positive basis for further research into the casual effect of relationships between the horse and rider and their use of physical therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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