Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition, similar to Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism and learning disabilities. As proper brain activity is directly related to correct alignment and the function of the spine, when the spine is out of alignment, it can create interference in the signals going to the brain and contribute to mental conditions. Doctors of Chiropractic specialize in removing nervous system interference and improve neurological function. Because of this particular specific focus on the body, chiropractic may reduce the symptoms of ADHD. Many reviews of the literature have shown improvements in symptoms experienced by individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions using chiropractic care. Chiropractic care can be a healthy and medication-free alternative to “traditional” ADHD care. For example, in the case of an 8-year-old diagnosed with ADD and hyperactivity, for three years (since kindergarten) the child had been on Ritalin T and Prozac T and undergoing behavior modification. By his 2nd adjustment the mother noted that the child could sit still longer, though he appeared more irritable. After 3 weeks of chiropractic care, all medication was removed and after 6 weeks of care, the school noted improvement in cognitive skills task concentration, ability to control emotions and decreased aggressiveness. A case of a six-year-old girl with a chief complaint of attention span deficiency and learning disability reported results with chiropractic care. She also suffered from lack of bladder control, headaches, sinus infections, constant fever, severely swollen neck lymph nodes and hyperactivity. After 3 months of chiropractic care, her lymph nodes are normal, her headaches and fevers are gone and she is no longer on medication. Her teacher’s remark that she is concentrating better and her grades have vastly improved.
Gleberzon, B.J., Arts, J., Mei A. and McManus E.L. The use of spinal manipulative therapy for pediatric health conditions: a systematic review of the literature. J Can Chiropractic 2012 56(2):128-41. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22675226.