[Basic principles and effects of hippotherapy within the comprehensive treatment of paraplegic patients]. / Grundlagen und Wirkungen der Hippotherapie im Konzept der umfassenden Behandlung querschnittgelähmter Patienten.

A total of 67 patients, both paraplegic and quadriplegic, had participated in a hippotherapy programme over a study period of almost 18 months, with positive effects found relative to spasticity, certain pain syndromes, as well as contraction syndromes associated with impaired joint mobility. Frequently the only effective measure at all, and moreover of astonishingly lasting effect, the spasticity-reducing treatment turned out especially beneficial. Along with these statistically supported findings, a number of associated effects were noted in the physiotherapy and, especially, the nursing sectors, with easier catheterization, more rhythmical bowel function, more balanced mood with improved sleep, and a generally increased openness and motivation. Hippotherapy has proven a valid method within a synergistic approach for comprehensive care in paraplegia.

The lack of comprehensive care causing complications in patients with myelodysplasia.

In recent years those working in German SCI centres have realised that a growing number of young adults with myelodysplasia are seeking special treatment because of the lack of comprehensive and lifelong care. Statistical investigations, collected over a period of nine years, demonstrate that only severe complications in soft tissues, urology and equipment have led to an admission. The capacity of the centres is limited, and more facilities are necessary. There is a political demand.

[Evaluating the independence of paraplegic patients at the end of the first rehabilitation--a multicenter project of computer-assisted quality control in rehabilitation]. / Bewertung der Selbständigkeit von Querschnittsgelähmten am Ende der Erstrehabilitation--ein multizentrisches Projekt der computererfassbaren Qualitätskontrolle in der Rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation of patients who became handicapped due to illness or trauma is a difficult process, involving many therapeutic sections. The necessity to document the results of different rehabilitation programs led to the development of numerous scoring systems in the USA within the last 25 years, considering mainly functional results. The present functional assessment score (DMGP-Selbständigkeitserfassung für Tetraplegiker) for the documentation of self-sufficiency in tetraplegic patients after primary rehabilitation has been designed to record the quality of rehabilitation programs and has been exclusively designed for patients with quadriplegia, it there fore has the advantage of a better and more precise documentation over other general functional scoring systems, especially for the interests of different sections (occupational therapy, physiotherapy) being involved in this special rehabilitation program. The aim of the documentation is to record the degree of independence of tetraplegic patients after primary rehabilitation, considering the individual requirements of aids and the assumption of circumstances suitable for wheel-chairs. Since all data are collected on a computer-readable form each participating clinic has the opportunity for an individual analysis of the own results, as well as the opportunity of comparing it with the collective results.