Back pain is a pervasive issue that is responsible for causing the highest rate of disability worldwide. The majority of individuals experience an episode of back pain during their lifetime, with the condition often surfacing in adolescence and increasing in frequency as they age.
Unfortunately, for 25 percent of those who develop back pain, the discomfort can persist, leading to a disabling and distressing experience that impedes their ability to carry out daily activities, engage in physical activity, and work.
Simple movements like sitting, standing, bending, and lifting can frequently trigger and worsen back pain, further exacerbating the situation.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland suggests that equine-facilitated therapy (EFT) may provide benefits to patients with chronic low back pain. According to the study, participants experienced a decrease in pain and an improvement in their ability to function in daily life over a 12-week period.
The results of the study were published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
The research aimed to assess the impact of EFT on various factors such as physical performance, pain level, pain acceptance, depression and anxiety, and quality of life. The study took place in Finland, involving 22 men and women who suffered from low back pain.
The 12-week intervention revealed that EFT could enhance people’s daily functioning. The results showed a significant improvement in areas such as sleep, reaching and bending forward, and standing for extended periods.
By gradually increasing the exercise load, it was possible to reduce patients’ perceived amount of pain, increase their social activities and improve their psychological well-being. During a six-month follow-up, only two chronic pain patients returned to the clinic due to pain.
Patients spoke highly of the physical, psychological, and social effects of EFT during follow-up interviews, indicating that the intervention had a comprehensive impact on their rehabilitation. The study also showed a statistically significant improvement in mental health. Patients experienced improved social functioning, and their depression decreased during the intervention.
“Chronic back pain is a multidimensional experience involving not only physical pain but also learned thinking patterns and emotional reactions,” points out Doctoral Researcher Sanna Mattila-Rautiainen from the University of Eastern Finland.
“Traditionally, physical therapy has been recommended for the rehabilitation of patients with chronic pain, as physical exercise has been found to be the most effective way to treat spinal pain.
“Hippocrates already recommended using equine movement as a form of physical and psychological rehabilitation for people, but the exact reason behind the rehabilitative effect has remained unknown thus far.”
Patients who had been unable to work for several years due to chronic pain experienced relief through equine-facilitated therapy.
“Patients with chronic pain tend to avoid the sensation of pain that comes from moving the affected part of their body,” adds Mattila-Rautiainen.
“However, when sitting on a moving horse, a person with low back pain will end up moving to the gait of the horse, which encourages the right kind of lumbar movement.”
During the intervention, it was discovered that sitting on a horse and experiencing 100 walk-like movements per minute was beneficial, with participants expressing positive feedback such as “The movement felt good – the horse moved me correctly” and “There is no other way to exercise like this.”
Image Credit: Getty