# Quantifying and reducing upper extremity impairments in cerebral palsy: Biomechanics, hippotherapy, and participation.

> **NIH NIH F30** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $26,437

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common childhood motor disability. Spasticity, poor range of motion,
weakness, and disuse are hallmarks of upper extremity impairment in CP. Children with CP and their parents
report better arm and hand function as a priority. Treatments that are fun, engaging, participation-focused, and
challenge the upper extremity in meaningful ways are likely to be the most successful in reducing upper
extremity impairments. Hippotherapy (physical therapy on horseback) may offer such an option. In this study
biomechanical analysis offers a sophisticated and objective measure of quantifying underlying timing and
coordination impairments of the upper extremities; first, as an important comparison between children with CP
and typical development (TD) (AIM 1) and second, as a potential outcome measure to quantifying the
reduction of upper extremity impairments (and approximation to TD) following hippotherapy intervention (AIM
1a).The long-term goal of my dissertation project is to develop a targeted pediatric rehabilitation treatment
(hippotherapy) for children with CP that is engaging, reduces upper extremity impairment, and prevents future
decline. This project is grounded in the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) framework. We used
3D motion capture during a functional reach-and-grasp task to measure ICF body structures/functions and
activity domains (AIM 1); child- and parent-reported measures of ICF activity and participation domains (AIM
2), and the application of these measure to assess a hippotherapy intervention (AIM 1a, AIM 2a). Last, we
propose to explore the feasibility of applying measures of patient engagement and enjoyment as ICF personal
factors during hippotherapy intervention (AIM 3). We anticipate these measures might cast a window into why
hippotherapy is potentially effective. We have demonstrated the ability to measure adherence to a
hippotherapy treatment protocol and to execute the reach-and-grasp protocol with children with CP and TD.
Through these aims, we will test the overarching hypotheses that 1) children with CP demonstrate
slower and less-coordinated reach and grasp in a functional task and poor participation compared to
their TD peers and 2) these measures can evaluate change in a hippotherapy intervention, and 3) child
engagement and enjoyment of hippotherapy can be quantified. The results of this investigation will guide
future study design for hippotherapy clinical trials. With the guidance of my interdisciplinary sponsorship team,
the preparation, enactment, analysis, and dissemination of this project will enable me to achieve the goals of
my dual-degree program and catapult me to becoming a productive, independent clinician-scientist.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10371872
- **Project number:** 5F30HD104379-02
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Julia Mazzarella
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $26,437
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-02-26 → 2022-08-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10371872

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10371872, Quantifying and reducing upper extremity impairments in cerebral palsy: Biomechanics, hippotherapy, and participation. (5F30HD104379-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10371872. Licensed CC0.

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