Movement Is Medicine
Kristen Murray MS, OTR/L, HPCS
hippotherapy
No Hippos
Hippotherapy
dynamic treatment surface
What is
neuromotor input?
sensory information the nervous system receives from various sources to facilitate motor control and coordination. This input is critical for the brain and spinal cord to process and respond appropriately, resulting in purposeful movement.
Neuromotor input helps the body understand where it is in space, how it is moving, and how to adjust to maintain stability and function.
Key types of input for function
-vestibular (inner ear)
-proprioceptive (muscles & Joints)
-tactile (Skin)
-visual (Retina)
Prior to incorporating
Equine movmement
-Lack of reciprocal arm swing
-asymmetric gait
-deviation from midline trajectory
progress we see following the incorporation of equine movement
-emergence of pronounced reciprocal arm swing
-increased symmetry in stride
-maintenance of midline trajectory
Why nature?
“Action on behalf of life transforms. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.”
― Robin Wall Kimmerer,
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Thank you!
rbnwf.org