Horse Therapy Helps Child with Cerebral Palsy

While cerebral palsy is a condition that can have debilitating effects on those who suffer from it, it is also well documented that finding the correct treatment methods can drastically improve a patient’s life. For Ryan Woods, the therapy that has helped his birth injury includes assistance from a horse.

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was only 13-months-old, the now 2½-year-old Woods has been utilizing hippotherapy – which is defined as a cerebral palsy treatment that uses the moment of a horse to assist in therapy by addressing impairments, physical limitations, and disabilities in patients suffering from conditions such as cerebral palsy.

“Hippotherapy has helped Ryan build trunk control, the warmth of the horse relaxes the high tone that he has in his legs and the gait of the horse provides both sensory perception as well as mimicking the gait of a person, meaning the rider will gain strength by the side-top side, up-and-down, and back-and forth motions,” said Michelle Woods, Ryan’s mother.

Michelle explained. She is, therefore, one of the biggest boosters of Southern Tier Alternative Therapies, Inc., a non-profit that provides hippotherapy for local kids and young adults with disabilities. If payment’s a problem, they’ve also give scholarships. And that’s where an upcoming fundraiser comes in.

According to Press Connects, the service that the Woods use for hippotherapy has scholarship options for families who may not be able to afford the treatment otherwise. However, these safeguards are not always in place, and therefore some families may not be able to afford the care their child desperately needs.

If your child suffered a birth injury that may have been caused by medical error, there may be legal action worth pursuing that could result in a financial award to help pay for medical treatments. Call Sokolove Law today to learn more about what is required to pursue a cerebral palsy lawsuit.

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