Horseback therapy may boost movement and breathing in kids with Muscle-Weakening disease

NCT ID NCT05341453

First seen Jul 17, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a week of intensive therapy involving horses can improve motor skills, posture, and breathing in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Children with SMA types I, II, or III will receive either horse-assisted physiotherapy or standard individual physiotherapy. Researchers will measure changes in movement, muscle fatigue, and quality of life to see if the horse-based program offers extra benefits.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
intensive equine-assisted physiotherapy (NEUROEQUIP-SMA) compared with standard individual physiotherapy
What this could lead to
If effective, this approach could offer a new, engaging therapy option to improve movement, posture, and breathing in children with SMA.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study with only 21 children, so results may not apply to all. The therapy is intensive and requires access to horses, which may not be widely available.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Kamila Řasová

    Prague, 128 00, Czechia

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.