Step Forward to the Evidence Based Practice

This session will cover the concept of Evidence Based Practice and its general effects on therapist’s treatment decisions. The presentation will provide a broad historical overview of the recent growth of evidence regarding the effectiveness of hippotherapy as a treatment tool for persons with impairments and disability. Further, the presenter will demonstrate how, through research and her personal experiences, this evidence has impacted the acceptance of hippotherapy as a treatment option into the practice of physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech language pathology. Finally, the presenter will offer suggestions for a potential research path forward for both rehabilitation professionals and researchers. Although specific examples will be geared toward hippotherapy, concepts regarding evidence based research that will be shared in this presentation may be applicable to, and of interest to, mental health practitioners and therapeutic riding instructors.