Physiotherapy and animals

There is a longstanding relationship between physiotherapy and animals. Physiotherapy has been provided and developed for horses, dogs, and many other large and small animal species. Animals are also often giving their support in various approaches to animal-assisted therapy. For the most part, however, animal physiotherapy and animal-assisted physiotherapy are marginalized in the physiotherapy profession and its ongoing emphasis on human health. The emergence of environmental physiotherapy presents an opportunity to bring animals closer to the center of physiotherapy. Human-animal relationships are an essential part of nature-connectedness, which, in turn, has been identified as being in critical need of improvement in the face of rampant biodiversity loss. Therapeutic and health-promotion work with and for animals might prove a significant contribution to this through the way they increase appreciation for our connection with animals in general, and the interdependence of human, animal, and ecosystem health.

On this page, you will find a growing range of resources that will help you learn about and practically engage with animals grounded in your unique expertise as a physiotherapist and healthcare professional.

Courses

Hippotherapy and equine-assisted physiotherapy

The term hippotherapy refers to how licensed occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement as a therapy tool to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes.

“Hippo” is the Greek word for ‘horse’, so ‘hippotherapy’ translates to ‘treatment with the help of the horse’.

The horse’s movement is a powerful treatment tool because it provides highly organised, multi-dimensional movement patterns that closely resemble human movement. As the horse moves, the patient receives thousands of opportunities to practice coordinated movement patterns used for functional tasks such as walking, supporting motor learning and re-learning through naturally variable repetition. Equine movement also provides simultaneous proprioceptive, vestibular, tactile, and visual sensory input, which can help regulate disordered sensory systems. The impact of equine movement on treatment outcomes is further supported by a growing body of research and conceptual frameworks from relevant organisations, such as the American Hippotherapy Association, Inc. and others.

Organisations

Header image by Yan Laurichesse on Unsplash