“My son suffers from ADHD. Should I bring him to a chiropractor?”
My son suffers from ADHD. Recently, someone suggested to me that I should take him to a chiropractor for treatment and to calm him down. Will this really help?
34 Answers
If his nervous system is in distress at all via the spinal column, then chiropractic is a very conservative approach to help.
Chiropractic treatments work on balancing the nervous system and normalizing the flow of nerve information to and from the brain. ADHD of course involves the brain and so short answer, yes, it would be worthwhile to try it. See if you can find a doctor who has worked a lot with this condition. In my practice two things I recommend are Prime my Body hemp oil and Voxx socks.
In my opinion, and many others, a chiropractor is not your first best option for ADHD. Although, some chiropractors believe their treatment plans can help children with ADHD, I do not.
Nutrition-based practice, yes.
There is a lot of research on ADHD and Chiropractic treatments. It is definitely worth a shot. Get referrals to a good Chiropractor or even specifically call pediatric chiropractors and ask if they have history treating ADHD patients and the results they found. Hope i helped. Got your back. Dr. Todd Gewant- Chiropractor
A resounding yes! Do your research!
I think all patients with ADD and ADHD should try chiropractic care. It calms the nerves. Reduces nerve irritability, relaxes muscles, helps properly align joints...all things that ALL of us could benefit from. I know the drug route looks and sounds easy, and it is. But if you get manageable results with no invasive drugs, wouldn't we all be pleased?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes! The nervous system is more irritable based on any extra stimuli that’s placed on the body. Chiropractic adjustments not only reduce tension and that irritable stimuli in the body and the joints, but it also relaxes the entire nervous system. On top of that most chiropractors are trained in nutrition and how to relax the body and remove irritants from that food point of view. Chiropractic adjustment also affects the body by increasing immune system cells post adjustment, and decreasing cortisol levels. So yes, your child should be adjusted. I hope this helps!
Yours in health,
Dr. Kim
Yours in health,
Dr. Kim
Hi, While I believe chiropractic can be a great adjunctive treatment for ADHD, I feel it’s more positive to be done with other therapies including medical. Chiropractic has shown a positive result with neurological disorders and psychosomatic disorders.
Some chiropractors do specialize in a holistic approach to caring for special conditions like ADHD. This means, specific spinal manipulation, nutrition, along with well researched and emerging therapies to improve your son's quality of life. I would suggest to find a practitioner that has this holistic approach and is willing to work with your family physician for a respectful team approach.
Yes. Part of then Central Nervous system is the Autonomic system which encompasses the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous system. Activating the parasympathetic portion will help calm him allowing him to focus better on tasks.
Yes, and you want to bring him to an Upper Cervical Chiropractor. This doctor focuses precisely on the top of the neck and base of the head area. There is no twisting of the head or neck here and this will allow for more balanced blood flow, nerve flow, cerebral spinal fluid flow and oxygen up to his brain and head. Totally changed my life after 7 concussions and various health problems. Now 24 yrs later and counting I am completely recovered. I also have people coming to see me from across the country for this specific care, it’s amazing and I love it so much.
Most definately take your son to a Chiropractor for evaluation, if Subluxations in his upper neck are causing irritation and or irritability to his nerve system, he may not be able to think clearly, leading to his diagnosis of ADHD. I'll bet your son can be still and pay attention to what is important to him, does he love playing video games?
Currently, there is no evidence to support the use of chiropractic treatment for the treatment of ADHD. However, one of the effects some patients report is being calmer or a reduction of stress. This may be of benefit for a child with ADHD but is certainly not a treatment of the condition.
Chiropractic works with the nervous system, (which is housed in the skull and the spinal column,) and controls and coordinates all body functions. Chiropractic removes fixations in the vertebra that affect the nerves that exit each level of the spine. Although chiropractors don’t “treat” ADHD, they treat the spine and remove interference to restore proper nervous system functioning. I have seen many children with ADHD that have misalignments in their spine, and once corrected their ADHD symptoms improved. There are other factors that can play into ADHD, and it’s good to have a wholistic approach and consider other factors such as diet, neurosensorymotor issues etc. I believe it’s beneficial for all children to have a chiropractic evaluation. Many have been doing competitive sports, tumbling or dance since a young age, which can cause lots of repetitive stress on the spine and joints. Trampolines, roller skating and general falls can all affect spinal alignment. Our nervous system is our most valuable resource , so we have to take proper care of our spines!!
The research in chiropractic and the treatment of ADHD does not show much correlation, but there have been many cases where it can help. It does not help in all cases, but through chiropractic adjustments the nervous system can be affected. In addition most chiropractors give nutritional advice which could also prove to be beneficial.
I would highly recommend that you have your son checked by a principled Doctor of Chiropractic that places emphasis on caring for babies and kids. If your son is suffering from an un-balanced nervous system, Chiropractic is right for him.
Samuel Cirone
Chiropractor
Thank you for your question. With a hyper active child, common activities may include falls which can result in a misaligned spine which can cause hyper activity. Chiropractic can help realign the spine thus alleviating the hyper activity.
It certainly will help his body regulate his nervous system at a more optimum level. Nutrition has a profound effect on the functions of the brain as well.
Yes! Many people with ADHD do well with Chiropractic care. When a person is adjusted it affects the entire nervous system. In many people it has a calming effect on the nervous system. There is current research showing the changes in brainwave pattern immediately after an adjustment. Research has also shown many people with ADHD have upper cervical subluxation possibly from the birthing process.
There are numerous case studies to support the use of chiropractic care in the management of ADHD symptoms. One such case study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Peadiatrics5 reviewed the Chiropractic management of a six-year-old child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The treatment plan included chiropractic adjustments, craniosacral therapy, movement exercises and nutritional supplements. After six weeks the results were reviewed.
“At 6 weeks, improved focus and more compliance with directives was noted. The patient retained the correction of the vertebral subluxation complex post adjustment after the first 4-5 adjustments. Subjective input from teachers and bus drivers noted marked improvement in behaviour. Through this course of treatment, the child was able to discontinue use of the medication previously prescribed to control the symptoms of ADHD.”
[5] Chiropractic management of six-year-old child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [case report] Wittman R, Vallone SA, Williams K J Clin Chiropr Pediatr. 2009 Jun;10(1):612-620
“At 6 weeks, improved focus and more compliance with directives was noted. The patient retained the correction of the vertebral subluxation complex post adjustment after the first 4-5 adjustments. Subjective input from teachers and bus drivers noted marked improvement in behaviour. Through this course of treatment, the child was able to discontinue use of the medication previously prescribed to control the symptoms of ADHD.”
[5] Chiropractic management of six-year-old child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [case report] Wittman R, Vallone SA, Williams K J Clin Chiropr Pediatr. 2009 Jun;10(1):612-620
-it will but you need to take him to someone who specializes chiropractic neurology. They will be able to evaluate the cortical side that is not functioning and will be able to treat that region specifically. Along w other things like diet moving your child to a certain side of the class room for greater activation to the side of his cortical deficit and Hemifiled stimulation
I personally don’t know of any research that states working on the neuromusculoskeletal system will influence the body in the way that ADHD symptoms will decrease. It would be experimental I think. A chiropractor as a health care provider might be able to help identify environmental or nutritional changes that might be necessary to help with symptoms of lack of concentration and hyperactiveness.
Thank you for your question. Children that experience ADHD can be benefited by chiropractic. Removing joint fixations in the spine can help reduce the physical stress of the body which in turn can help the child feel better. This can have the benefit of reducing their hyperactivity. There are other chiropractors that will say that chiropractic can 'cure' or 'treat' ADHD but there is no scientific evidence that supports this.
Chiropractic can help alone but I would recommend a food intolerance panel and heavy metal panel. I see fantastic results by eliminating food allergies and heavy metal toxicity.
In my experience chiropractic has been helpful with ADHD and I might add with Autism also. These conditions can be hindered by nerve root irritation mainly in the upper cervical spine. The right nutritional supplements such as vitamin D and fish oils in conjunction with regular chiropractic care. I have seen patients whose activity and social interaction have improved. Academics have also improved. Don't expect it to happen overnight. It will take a few weeks before you will see positive changes.
Chiropractic care has been known to have success with all sorts of conditions but every patient and situation is different. I suggest you consult with your local chiropractor to see what their experience has yielded in the ADHD realm.
Hi,
Everyone benefits from a better functioning nervous system through Chiropractic care.
However, there is not a direct relationship between an adjustment and ADHD.
My son has Tourette’s Syndrome and he had great results from a brain supplement called EHT from Nerium. You might want to check into that, or CBD oil which I have heard good things about too.
Always check with your doctor though.
Good luck!
Dr Moon
Everyone benefits from a better functioning nervous system through Chiropractic care.
However, there is not a direct relationship between an adjustment and ADHD.
My son has Tourette’s Syndrome and he had great results from a brain supplement called EHT from Nerium. You might want to check into that, or CBD oil which I have heard good things about too.
Always check with your doctor though.
Good luck!
Dr Moon
Yes you should take your son to a chiropractor for help with ADHD. The beneficial effects of removing nerve pressure will balance his energy and calm him. Most chiropractors have seen dramatic results from patients who suffer from hyperactive nervous conditions. Yes, the natural approach is very effective for ADHD.
Absolutely. 90% of nutrition and stimulation to the brain is generated by movement of the spine! Roger Sperry, MD proved this in his Nobel Prize winning research!
Chiropractic has alot of research regarding ADHD/ADD. The way we address ADHD symptoms at our center is by the understanding that the brain controls all the cells and tissues of the body. If the brain messages is stopped or ACCELERATED (in the case of ADHD) then the physiology (action, behavior, chemical reactions) will be affected and thus create symptoms like ADHD. Since the skull is protecting the brain it can also compress it. We look at the skull first for any bone misalignment. Then we look at the spine since the brain messages travels from the brain to the spine and if an interference occur, the above will happen. You may want to look at ipca4kids.org for more research regarding chiropractic and children. Hope this help!
In my experience it can help and usually results are seen within the first 2 weeks. I would highly recommend that you take him. All the best.
Many parents have reported that gentle spinal adjustments and therapies have improved their children's ADHD symptoms and behaviors. I would search for a chiropractic doctor who also focuses on nutrition as results are better when combined with proper nutrition and supplementation.
There are many causes for ADHD including nutritional mechanical (structural), environment (type of lighting, air quality...) allergies. A chiropractor who also practices functional nutrition would be very helpful as they can evaluate both on a structural and nutritional basis.
