Chiropractic Care on Behavior, Neurological Function and Quality of Life in ADHD Children - A Pilot Study

ADHD is a disorder that may affect an individual's academic performance, social interactions, and interpersonal relationships amongst others. It is characterized by impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and inattention. It was previously thought that children overcome ADHD as they grow up, however, recent studies suggest that 30-60% of affected individuals continue to show significant symptoms of the disorder as adults and have associated difficulties such as lower educational and employment achievement. Conventional therapeutic approaches that are used with individuals with ADHD generally involve pharmaceutical interventions and behavioral therapies such as counseling and behavioral modification. However, little is known about the long term effectiveness of these treatment approaches which are also known to involve significant risks and complications.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is associated with significant alterations in brain development and function. These include changes in fronto-striatal pathways that can lead to difficulties with "top-down" control. It is also likely that connections in the parietal lobe and cerebellum are involved. These neurological changes are associated with a number of alterations to sensory filtering, sensorimotor gating, and sensorimotor control. This lends itself to a potential role for chiropractors in caring for children with ADHD because chiropractic care has been shown to alter a number of aspects of sensorimotor function.

Chiropractic is based on the theory that spinal adjustments applied to areas of spinal dysfunction, known as vertebral subluxations, can improve the function of the nervous system. Our research group has been testing this theory for the last 15 years. We have hypothesized that the articular dysfunction component of the vertebral subluxation results in altered afferent input to the central nervous system (CNS) that modifies the way in which the CNS processes and integrates all subsequent sensory input. This processing (i.e. sensorimotor integration), is a CNS function that appears most vulnerable to altered inputs. Recent studies have shown that chiropractic care alters sensorimotor filtering, cortical and cerebellar motor processing, and multisensory processing, all of which may be important in the neurodevelopment of ADHD. Given the nature of the neurological changes associated with ADHD and the growing body of evidence that suggests that chiropractic care may influence neurological function, it is possible that chiropractors may play a role in enhancing the neurological function of individuals with ADHD.

Inclusion criteria

• have been previously diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hypersensitivity Disorder based on the criteria outlined in the DSM-V.

Exclusion criteria

• have absolute contraindications to chiropractic adjustments
• have experienced previous significant adverse reactions to chiropractic care or manual therapies.
• investigators are unable to get consent from parents and caregivers of participating children in the trial