A statement about therapy after tendon rehabilitation is true?

• A. A horse can be used for therapy after rehab of the tendon.
• B. A horse cannot be used for any therapy after rehabilitation.
• C. Therapy is not recommended for any tendon rehab.
• D. Only for racing after rehab

Answer: (A)

After tendon rehabilitation has progressed to the point where healing is sufficient to tolerate load, using a horse for therapy can be appropriate. Hippotherapy provides a controlled, dynamic movement that helps with neuromuscular re-education, balance, posture, and gait coordination, while allowing for gradual progression of difficulty. The horse’s rhythmic motion delivers multisensory input (proprioceptive, vestibular, and visual) that supports functional gains from rehab and can aid in transferring those gains to everyday activities. Of course, this approach should only occur with clearance from the treating clinician, careful monitoring, appropriate progression, and well-trained horses and therapists to ensure safety and appropriateness for the individual’s healing stage. So, the statement that a horse can be used for therapy after tendon rehab is true.