“How does going to a chiropractor for ADHD help?”
Is it any use to take my son who has ADHD to a chiropractor?
22 Answers
ADHD children are usually a Sympathetic Dominant state. Adjustment helps to decrease SNS firing and promote Parasympathetic State. Parasympathetic Nervous system is responsible for the relaxation and peace that helps them to focus better.
It's related to dopamine imbalance. Most chiro's have a good understanding of nutrition, but make sure they have a special interest in this. It is NOT from lack of adderal or Ritilan!
Philosophically, chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT) influences the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) and allows it to function at a normal level. Although more research needs to be done, initial research has started to show that chiropractic treatments can influence the spinal fluid as well as the central nervous system.
Hi,
ADHD has many causes. One is them is believed to be poor alignment of the spine. I myself have treated many patients, children and adults with ADHD. After their adjustments, many have reported better focus, a calmer manner, and improved behavior.
I hope this helps!
ADHD has many causes. One is them is believed to be poor alignment of the spine. I myself have treated many patients, children and adults with ADHD. After their adjustments, many have reported better focus, a calmer manner, and improved behavior.
I hope this helps!
5 Great Reasons To Take Your Child To The Chiropractor:
1) To promote proper growth and development and to limit health challenges such as issues with nursing and reflux.
2) To allow a child’s nervous system and spine to grow optimally and without interference. To reduce ear infections, bed wetting, asthma and allergies.
3) To improve a child’s immune system and digestive health and to limit colic and constipation.
4) To encourage nerve and brain development and promote proper perception and awareness preventing labels such as neuro-developmental disorders such as ADHD.
5) To be proactive about your child’s overall health and wellbeing which will limit and support them through colds and infections and allow them to meet their optimal potential.
Dr. Majed Nagoulat, D.C.
1) To promote proper growth and development and to limit health challenges such as issues with nursing and reflux.
2) To allow a child’s nervous system and spine to grow optimally and without interference. To reduce ear infections, bed wetting, asthma and allergies.
3) To improve a child’s immune system and digestive health and to limit colic and constipation.
4) To encourage nerve and brain development and promote proper perception and awareness preventing labels such as neuro-developmental disorders such as ADHD.
5) To be proactive about your child’s overall health and wellbeing which will limit and support them through colds and infections and allow them to meet their optimal potential.
Dr. Majed Nagoulat, D.C.
It won’t hurt and may help. When the spinal column is under unnecessary stress from any of the spinal segments, it can cause distress on the nervous system. So a well-adjusted spine can help the nervous system to relax.
No, research does not support this. As a chiropractic, I discourage the promotion of chiropractic care as a potential treatment. Naturally, giving amphetamine (meth) analogs to kids is not a great treatment and research has shown permanent alteration to GABA receptors when children are put on these medications long-term. Unfortunately, there is not a clear alternative at this time.
There is a treatment called the SAVE program or Clarity chair that has demonstrated great results with ADHD. I have one in my clinic. You can research it online and determine if it's something your son can do.
I am a chiropractor and I have seen no research to support spinal manipulation to help ADHD-- but I guarantee you you'll find chiropractors who will say they can help. My recommendation would be to stay away.
Yes, via proper nutrition, supplementation, and nervous system balancing.
Good luck.
Good luck.
By stimulating the autonomic nervous system. More specifically, the parasympathetic nervous system.
The limbic system is the portion of the brain that deals with three key functions: emotions, memories and arousal (or stimulation). This system is composed of several parts, which are found above the brainstem and within the cerebrum. The limbic system connects parts of the brain that deal with high and low functions.The limbic system (especially the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and the dorsal nerve roots) can only function normally when it is free of interference. When out of balance, the brain does not function properly and symptoms like ADHD, appear. If there is a spinal misalignment (vertebral subluxation), it can result in a warped perception of one’s environment.
Since chiropractors focus on correcting vertebral subluxations and their consequent effects on the nervous system, proper chiropractic care can be a vital part in improving the lives of those with ADHD.
Since chiropractors focus on correcting vertebral subluxations and their consequent effects on the nervous system, proper chiropractic care can be a vital part in improving the lives of those with ADHD.
Definitely! Chiropractic is great for kids. What we treat as chiropractors is stress to the nervous system due to joints not moving like their supposed to. ADHD is a symptom of a stressed nervous system. Lots of kiddos receive chiropractic care for ADHD, asthma, colic, ear infections, and many more things. I would definitely have him checked out.
It can be very helpful especially when combined with a good nutrition plan
Chiropractic is concerned with the nervous system.
By removing nerve interference through adjusting the spine, the nerve energy remains balanced and unimpeded. This will have a positive effect on ADHD symptoms. In addition, most chiropractors evaluate nutritional factors that play a role in that condition. Some chiropractors also do cranial balancing which also effects the ADHD patient.
So, it’s a good idea for you to take your child for chiropractic care.
By removing nerve interference through adjusting the spine, the nerve energy remains balanced and unimpeded. This will have a positive effect on ADHD symptoms. In addition, most chiropractors evaluate nutritional factors that play a role in that condition. Some chiropractors also do cranial balancing which also effects the ADHD patient.
So, it’s a good idea for you to take your child for chiropractic care.
Hi, I actually have had the fortunate chance to work with many children that have been diagnosed with ADHD in my practice. The literature suggests that ADHD is a sensory deficit disorder. The brain sends out a certain amount of nerve energy to the body and that information returns to the brain to be processed. In children with ADHD there is a problem with how this sensory information is perceived or received by the brain. This is why a lot of people, doctors and therapists, use pressure therapy, exercise, and massage to help improve the symptoms of the person suffering with ADHD. They are trying to stimulate more nerve impulses heading back to the brain. This sensory deficit is also why the children tend to be over active. The brain is trying to send out more information so it gets back the amount of nerve energy it's expecting. The ADHD drugs given to the patients artificially create this increase of activity within the brain so the patients behavior will calm down.
As a chiropractor, we are looking to see where there is interference in the nervous system and how this interference is affecting the nerve communication in someone's body. This interference can create problems such as numbness, pain, organ dysfunction and more as the nervous system controls the healthy function of every cell, tissue, organ and system in our body. For people suffering from ADHD, I will evaluate the patient's entire body and nervous system to look for areas that could be affecting the communication between the body and the brain. Chiropractic is designed to look for, identify and remove this interference.
My goal for a patient with ADHD is to remove any interference so that more of the normal nerve information is actually making it back to the brain. Unfortunately, as we are dealing with a central nervous system problem with brain involvement, it's not as easy as to say just remove the interference in the body and every patient will be cured. The reality is that we don't know for sure if the treatment will help that specific patient. I'd say that in my practice, I would see a significant favorable result in more than 80% of the patients I treated where ADHD was a concern. Of the 80% that did have improvement, it varied by patient on the level of improvement. Some patients still had some symptoms of ADHD, but their behavior, concentration, and focus would improve. Other patients had the symptoms completely disappear. The amount of improvement ultimately depends on the patient's own body and root cause of their ADHD.
In my practice, when I have an ADHD patient, I will perform an initial evaluation to check if there could be areas of their body causing nerve interference. Based on my evaluation and history, if I feel like I could help, I will have the patient come in for a short course of treatment, typically 2 times a week for 4 weeks. (This is just a general suggestion and varies based on the actual patient's condition). But this initial course of treatment is to see how the patient responds to care. I'm looking to see if there are any changes in the patients behavior or symptoms. If there is no change or mild change then I discuss with the patient/parent on whether to stop treatment, refer the patient to another specialist or modify the treatment for a second trial. If there is a favorable response then we will have the patient continue with their treatment to correct and stabilize their problems.
Sorry for the long post, but I hope this helps.
As a side note on finding a chiropractor to help you out, I'd ask the front office when you call if that chiropractor works with children and then ask if they work with ADHD. You should get an answer that will make you feel comfortable going there, if any red flags pop up then call someone else. Chiropractors are like any doctor. Some specialize in children, some in sports injuries, some focus on disk conditions, etc. I work in a family practice that is used to seeing children and our clinic is designed to be kid friendly. Make sure you are going to a doctor that is used to treating children and ideally has experience working with ADHD.
I wish you the best,
Dr. Ryan Hanson, DC
As a chiropractor, we are looking to see where there is interference in the nervous system and how this interference is affecting the nerve communication in someone's body. This interference can create problems such as numbness, pain, organ dysfunction and more as the nervous system controls the healthy function of every cell, tissue, organ and system in our body. For people suffering from ADHD, I will evaluate the patient's entire body and nervous system to look for areas that could be affecting the communication between the body and the brain. Chiropractic is designed to look for, identify and remove this interference.
My goal for a patient with ADHD is to remove any interference so that more of the normal nerve information is actually making it back to the brain. Unfortunately, as we are dealing with a central nervous system problem with brain involvement, it's not as easy as to say just remove the interference in the body and every patient will be cured. The reality is that we don't know for sure if the treatment will help that specific patient. I'd say that in my practice, I would see a significant favorable result in more than 80% of the patients I treated where ADHD was a concern. Of the 80% that did have improvement, it varied by patient on the level of improvement. Some patients still had some symptoms of ADHD, but their behavior, concentration, and focus would improve. Other patients had the symptoms completely disappear. The amount of improvement ultimately depends on the patient's own body and root cause of their ADHD.
In my practice, when I have an ADHD patient, I will perform an initial evaluation to check if there could be areas of their body causing nerve interference. Based on my evaluation and history, if I feel like I could help, I will have the patient come in for a short course of treatment, typically 2 times a week for 4 weeks. (This is just a general suggestion and varies based on the actual patient's condition). But this initial course of treatment is to see how the patient responds to care. I'm looking to see if there are any changes in the patients behavior or symptoms. If there is no change or mild change then I discuss with the patient/parent on whether to stop treatment, refer the patient to another specialist or modify the treatment for a second trial. If there is a favorable response then we will have the patient continue with their treatment to correct and stabilize their problems.
Sorry for the long post, but I hope this helps.
As a side note on finding a chiropractor to help you out, I'd ask the front office when you call if that chiropractor works with children and then ask if they work with ADHD. You should get an answer that will make you feel comfortable going there, if any red flags pop up then call someone else. Chiropractors are like any doctor. Some specialize in children, some in sports injuries, some focus on disk conditions, etc. I work in a family practice that is used to seeing children and our clinic is designed to be kid friendly. Make sure you are going to a doctor that is used to treating children and ideally has experience working with ADHD.
I wish you the best,
Dr. Ryan Hanson, DC
Yes. Sometimes adjusting the neck & body can help with calming the child down (no hard evidence for this.... only anecdotal though...).
Hello,
There is no clear cut data for chiropractic and ADHD, but there is a benefit that I have seen with chiropractic care coordinated with craniosacral therapy. I work with a therapist together and have seen the results. So, find a good craniosacral therapist as well as take your son to a chiropractor.
Vishal K. Verma DC CCSP
There is no clear cut data for chiropractic and ADHD, but there is a benefit that I have seen with chiropractic care coordinated with craniosacral therapy. I work with a therapist together and have seen the results. So, find a good craniosacral therapist as well as take your son to a chiropractor.
Vishal K. Verma DC CCSP
Chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the body’s main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient’s health. Chiropractors know that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to these structures, particularly to the spinal column. They do not prescribe drugs or perform surgical procedures, although they do refer patients for these services if they are medically indicated.
With this in mind, the research regarding chiropractic and ADHD is limited. Chiropractic works with the relationship between the central nervous system (CNS) and the body and how effectively they communicate. Chiropractors know that if the CNS is unimpeded, then everything works more effectively. Due to this, there have been cases of significant improvement when treating ADHD with chiropractic. However, it is a symptom-based treatment and the only way to know if chiropractic will be effective is to make an appointment with an experienced chiropractor, develop a conservative treatment plan and monitor the outcome.
Thanks,
Dr. Martin
With this in mind, the research regarding chiropractic and ADHD is limited. Chiropractic works with the relationship between the central nervous system (CNS) and the body and how effectively they communicate. Chiropractors know that if the CNS is unimpeded, then everything works more effectively. Due to this, there have been cases of significant improvement when treating ADHD with chiropractic. However, it is a symptom-based treatment and the only way to know if chiropractic will be effective is to make an appointment with an experienced chiropractor, develop a conservative treatment plan and monitor the outcome.
Thanks,
Dr. Martin
Yes, chiropractic care can help your son’s ADHD. I recommend twelve treatments on a weekly basis and then reevaluate.
Studies have demonstrated a link between improved behaviors and symptoms of children diagnosed ADHD while under chiropractic care. Gentle spinal adjustments and therapies are typically performed while under chiropractic care, and many patients and parents of patients have reported improvements in their children’s diagnosed ADHD symptoms and behaviors.
It has helped other patients!
