Perceptions of Neuromuscular Control Following Long-Term Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Individuals with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 1A: A Small-Scale Case Study

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a group of inherited, progressive genetic disorders causing peripheral nerve damage affecting muscles in the arms, legs, hands, and feet. Studies on CMT disease have found that it damages the peripheral nerves of the body, which hinders the neuromuscular control, or the subconscious communication between the muscular and nervous systems, of those affected. Type 1A, or CMT1A, is the most common subtype of the disease and is generally a later-onset and milder form. Currently, there exists no pharmacological remedies for the disorder, with spinal surgery and rehabilitation serving as the only ways to mitigate its effects. One understudied approach is therapeutic horseback riding, which uses the rhythmical movement of the horse to strengthen a participant’s balance, strength, and coordination. Few studies, however, have examined the implementation of this therapy in a CMT population, and even fewer so for CMT1A. To help fill this gap, this small-scale case study collected primary, qualitative data through interviews to assess the self-perceived neuromuscular outcomes of individuals with CMT1A who have participated in therapeutic horseback riding over a long-term time frame. The extent to which the therapy positively impacted their neuromuscular control varied, though both participants described forms of improvement. Thus, this study’s findings indicate that therapeutic horseback riding could serve as an effective therapeutic rehabilitation for CMT1A, although more quantitative research is necessary.