Neuroproprioceptive Equine-Assisted Physiotherapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Brief summary (registry, in English)

This study investigates whether Equine-Assisted Physiotherapy based on Neuro-proprioceptive "Facilitation and Inhibition" (NEUROEQUIP-SMA) can improve movement, posture, breathing, and quality of life in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This therapy uses the horse's rhythmic movement together with targeted sensory and manual stimulation to trigger natural motor reactions starting from the pelvis, lower the threshold for muscle activation, and support coordinated motor patterns. The study compares this method with standard individual physiotherapy based on the same neuro-proprioceptive facilitation and inhibition principles, but performed without the horse. Twenty children aged 2 to 9 years will receive both therapies in two separate 6-day blocks, in random order (crossover design). The researchers will assess muscle fatigue, coordination, breathing function, movement quality and quantity, quality of life, and changes in selected blood biomarkers. The results may help develop better rehabilitation strategies for children with SMA who are receiving modern pharmacological or gene therapy.

What you commit to

• Study type: Interventional
• Planned participants: 20
• From 15 Apr 2026 to the primary completion date, 1 Jun 2026
• 4 sites in 1 country
• Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Who the study is looking for

Age in the registry: 2 years to 9 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (4)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.