Recruiting · registry status

Testing horse-assisted therapy for movement and balance

Researchers compare therapy involving horses with usual care, looking at walking, balance, movement and quality of life in people with Parkinson’s.

Testing a treatment or activity · Study reference: NCT07802509

Plain-language introduction written with AI from the registry; not independently checked by a clinician. Read the original details below ↓

Open the official registry record ↗

Who can join?

Age 18 years and over · Does not accept healthy volunteers

These are starting points, not the full rules. The research team can tell you whether the study is right for your situation.

Read all the rules for taking part

Sex eligibility reported by registry: all

Inclusion Criteria: * Confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson's diagnosis * Age \> 18 Years; * Hoehn \& Yahr stage ≤ 4; * Category 3 in the Functional Ambulation Categories * Climbing stairs is possible (with support). Exclusion Criteria: * Severe cognitive impairment, defined by a score below 26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa) * Body weight \> 90kg; * Horse hair allergy; * Other acute and subacute cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal or neurological disorders that constitute a contraindication to hippotherapy (i.e. a recent fracture); * Pregnancy.

Full study name & original research details

Official study title

Does Hippotherapy Have an Effect on Mobility, Gait, Balance and Perceived Health-related Quality of Life in Persons With Parkinson's Disease?

Original description

The goal of this pilot randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effects of hippotherapy (horse assisted therapy) (intervention group) compared to usual care (control group) on mobility, gait, balance and perceived health-related quality of life in persons with Parkinson's disease. The main objectives of this study are: * The primary objective is to investigate the effects of hippotherapy on mobility of pwPD, walking speed and the ability to perform daily movements. * The secondary objective is to investigate the effects of hippotherapy on (a) balance, (b) self-perceived physical and mental health and (c) specific gait parameters. * Furthermore this study, aims to gather critical information that will inform about the design and implementation of a larger, more definitive randomized controlled trial. In addition to the three-week, multidisciplinary rehabilitation program the intervention group will receive hippotherapy (20 minutes) three times a week (7 sessions in total) and the control group will receive additional physiotherapy sessions (30 minutes) two times a week.

Conditions reported: Parkinson Disease

Study type: Interventional
Interventions: Hippotherapy; Physiotherapy
Phases: NA
Sponsor: Klinik Valens
Start date reported by registry: 2025-01-01 (actual)

Registry updated: 2026-09-17 · Status last verified by the registry submitter: 2026-08

Registry records retrieved 2026-10-11 (UTC). Individual records may have older updates. Recruitment and eligibility must be confirmed with the study team.

Contact the research team

Public study contacts supplied to the registry. Ask whether recruitment is still open and what participation involves.

Jens Bansi, PhD · +41 58 511 13 02 · jens.bansi@kliniken-valens.ch

Isa Slotboom, MSc · +41 58 511 13 73 · isa.slotboom@kliniken-valens.ch

Study locations

Site status can differ from overall study status. “Status not reported” means local availability needs confirmation. Remote participation and travel arrangements must be checked with the team.

Rehabilitation Centre Valens

Valens, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland

Recruiting

Jens Bansi, PhD · +41 58 511 13 02 · jens.bansi@kliniken-valens.ch

Jens Bansi, PhD

The original descriptions and participation rules come from the registry. Participation is voluntary and does not guarantee benefit.