Since I was a little girl I have always enjoyed helping others, whether I was asking my mother to help fold clothes or playing nurse with my friends at recess. The feeling of knowing that I had helped someone to become better than they once were has always been a feeling like no other.

What is a physical therapist?

Physical therapists focus on the evaluation of strength, balance, range of motion, co-ordination, endurance, and posture of each individual patient. From this initial examination, the physical therapist then develops a treatment plan specific to correcting pertinent physical findings. Each patient’s individual treatment plan is geared toward reaching specific rehabilitation goals that are set by the therapist and the patient together as a team. However, the physical therapist will help in determining realistic goals through their knowledge of pathology and prognosis.

Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy is a type of therapy which allows a physical therapist to overlay a patient's motor skills with a horse's movement. It addresses the motor needs of each patient and promotes functional outcomes in skill areas related to gross motor ability such as sitting, standing, and walking.

This specific type of therapy was used on my niece who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth. She is a tough little girl who has overcome many challenges life has thrown her way. Sarah is an inspirational little girl that never seems to let a smile fade away from her face.

More about hippotherapy

My Niece's Story

Hippotherapy through my eyes