ABSOLUTE CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR HIPPOTHERAPY

• Active mental health disorders that would be unsafe (fire setting, suicidal, animal abuse, violent behavior, etc.)
• Acute herniated disc with or without nerve root compression
• Chiari II malformation with neurologic symptoms
• Atlantoaxial instability (AAI) – a displacement of the C1 vertebra in relation to the C2 vertebra as seen on x-ray or computed tomography of significant amount (generally agreed to be greater than 4 mm for a child) with or without neurologic signs as assessed by a qualified physician; this condition is seen with diagnoses which have ligamentous laxity such as Down syndrome or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• Coxa arthrosis – degeneration of the hip joint; the femoral head is flattened and functions like a hinge joint versus a ball and socket joint. Sitting on the horse puts extreme stress on the joint
• Grand mal seizures – uncontrolled by medications
• Hemophilia with a recent history of bleeding episodes
• Indwelling urethral catheters
• Medical conditions during acute exacerbations (rheumatoid arthritis, herniated nucleus polyposis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, etc.)
• Open wounds over a weight-bearing surface
• Pathologic fractures without successful treatment of the underlying pathology (e.g. severe osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, bone tumor, etc.)
• Tethered cord with symptoms • Unstable spine or joints including unstable internal hardware