United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My 9 year old daughter who has had a brachial plexus injury since birth started horse back riding lessons the other day. The next day her butt was sore. The following day, she has a major compliant of spinal pain that caused her to lose sleep throughout the night. The pain goes up and down the length of her spine when I apply pressure to it with my finger. Has anyone had any problems with this type of situation? The instructors had told her to lean back in the saddle while either going downhill or uphill, I don't remember which , and neither do my two children taking the lessons. I think she may have leaned back during the entire one hour lesson. They rode in a corral for a while and then went on a trail ride for 45 minutes. I think she may have leaned backwards the entire time and caused undue stress on her spine. If you observe he from a profile, she appears to be leaning backwards even when walking on level ground compared to other children.

Anybody have any similiar situations? Has anyone's child's physician warned them not to take horseback riding lessons?

Hi Ed,

Can you tell if it is muscle pain or actually pain in the spine? Her back muscles are definitely going to be very sore after that much riding the first time out. If it was her position causing direct stress on the spine, I think she would have felt it at the time whereas muscle soreness doesn't typically show up until a day or two later (and typically is the worst the day AFTER the day after exercising).

I think she probably stressed the support muscles in her back, and that later resulted in/feels like spinal pain. Or she could be having muscle spasms in her back. If it isn't improved by the third or fourth day or if she is having any pinched-nerve sensations (like numbness down the leg or shooting pains) I would see a doctor.

FYI, however... I've found that many physicians have a knee-jerk response and advise against horseback riding for anyone with back problems. I think this is usually an overreaction from ignorance and not understanding the mechanics of riding. My experience has been that horseback riding tends to be GOOD for the back because it strengthens the support muscles in the back and ends up taking stress off the spine.

Kate

(I have been involved with horses for 30 years, and briefly taught riding and trained horses professionally.)

Hi Ed

I can't help you with the horse riding question.

I am the mother of a 20 year old LOBPI daughter, my youngest. Several years ago I took a 2 day course to learn Myofacial Release, attended mostly by O.T.s & P.T.s. I believe you might want to use this technique for your child.

Have your daughter lay on the floor on her back. Play soothing music in the background and ask her to relax. Then take both your hands and place them under her head (I sit on the floor with my legs out). Then with your hands cuped under her head give a gentle stretch and hold for 5 minutes. It should stretch out her spine and might aleve her discomfort.

When I do this to my oldest daughter, she will actually feel it releasing. I actually do this more for my oldest, non BPI daughter, now. My oldest daughter was diagnosed with Kyphosis and Lumber Lordosis, and wore a brace for that years ago. She also has Hip problems that were never properly diagnosed. My internet research from last summer gave it a name, Congenital or Developmental Hip Dysplasia. Now in her 20's she has hip pain.

I think frequently Doctors only look at the one malady. You might make an appointment with your Orthopedic Doctor and ask him to take a better look and your daughters back and hips. I learned this the hard way, when I didn't.

Your daughter is not too young to take to a chiropractor for treatment and you might also consider that.

Thank you for the reply Kate. I asked and she denies any shooting pain down her legs. It seems to be when I touch very locally down her spine. The other thing I forgot to mention is that her 8 year old sister took lessons also, but her group didn't "trot" like my daughter with the pain. The little sister has no pain but all her group did was "walk".

We have an appointment tomorrow with an OT for a new nightime splint to be fitted. I will ask them if they have any knowledge about the situation. The physician is downstairs and maybe I can grab her or her nurse for a five minute evaluation(I hope, we live an hour away from the hospital that he OT and doc are at).

Angela, thank you also. I am going to try the head/neck stretch in a few minutes.

I have a 5 yr old daughter with bpi and I have trained an owned horses for about 15 years now.
The instructors probably told her to lean back when going downhill. Going uphill you lean forward.
It would take me a long time to explain the correct seating so it's just easier for me to give you a link with pictures to help better explain.
I ride English or Dressage which use the most classic riding position.

www.classicaldressage.co.uk/Alignment/alignment.html

blythdale.tripod.com/coventryequestriancenter/id18.html

If you do not ride in the correct position it will indeed cause pain in your spine not to mention the horses spine as well.
There is a book I highly recommend if your children are going to continue with riding. It's called "Centered Riding by Sally Swift". This book is for all riders, specially those that are having any kind of pain riding horses. Ms. Swift had a serious back problem and in her book she explains exactly why it happens and how you can save your body and your horse, using very good examples and pictures to show it.
Riding can be very painful at times and there is danger involved but for me the rewards far out weigh the bad.
What type of lessons is your child taking? It also helps to have a good instructor!
Well I hope this helps if you have anymore questions please let me know
~Jessica
bri_jess@msn.com

Dear Mr. Ed:
My 4 1/2 year old daughter started riding horses a year ago. She does hippotherapy which is therapeutic riding with an ot who is certified in hippotherapy. She rides both with and without a saddle. She has a leader, a sidwalker and the ot (who is on her bpi side). They play games on the horse and she doesn't even realize that it is therapy.
I have seen incredible changes in her since we started. Juliana has always had gait issues and weight bearing issues (she puts 90% of her weight on her unaffected side). Consequently, she fell constantly and she had a wacky gait when running. Since we have been riding, her posture is incredible. Her gait is improved, her back is stronger, and her balance is ssssooooo much better. We can't seem to unload the head tip, but some things we just get used to.
I figure your daughter probably has fairly weak back muscles and riding for 45 minutes gave them quite the workout. I think riding is excellent therapy, even if you don't have an ot. Much like swimming lessons, you get therapy without the kids knowing it is therapy.
I hope she liked it enough (even with the post-riding pain) to continue.

btw, "posting" in riding is possibly the MOST uncomfortable thing anyone can be asked to do. I hated it when I was a kid and rode.

Good luck. Try some tylenol or motrin and a warm bath...

claudia

Thank you all for your responses. I have given her Motrin Jr. and will keep an eye on her and try to get her to pay attention to her riding posture. I would hate for her to have to give up her new hobby since horses mean a lot to her at this point.