Physiological Demands of Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Children With Moderate to Severe Motor Impairments: An Exploratory Study

Purpose: To examine energy expenditure at rest and during a single therapeutic horseback riding (THR) session in children with moderate to severe motor impairments. Methods: Heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake ((V) over dotO(2)), and minute ventilation ((V) over dotE) were measured continuously during a 10-minute rest period and during a typical THR session. Results: Seven children (4 males, mean age 12.3 +/- 3.5 years) completed the protocol. Significant increases from rest were seen for mean HR, (V) over dotO(2), (V) over dotE, and energy expenditure. Based on (V) over dotO(2), 43.3 +/- 24.3% of the THR session consisted of sedentary, 44.4 +/- 13.4% of light, and 12.3 +/- 21.8% of moderate to vigorous activity intensity, with large interindividual differences. Conclusions: The physiological demands of THR in children with moderate to severe motor impairments are moderate. However, considering the short duration of maintaining moderate to vigorous exercise activity during THR in combination with the low training frequency, group data indicate that it is unlikely that THR will improve cardiopulmonary fitness in these children. (Pediatr Phys Ther 2012; 24: 252-257)