Chiropractic and the Challenged Child
Did You Know, it is not unusual in a family chiropractic centre to hear parents ask if Chiropractic can help children with behavioral disorders, learning difficulties, or developmental challenges.
Chiropractic and ADHD
Sensory integration is “the ability to take in, process, organize and assimilate sensory information so that we feel comfortable and secure; we then can respond appropriately to given situations and demands”.[1] Learning, in every form, occurs through the process of sensory integration. However, a disconnect between the brain and the body can create difficulty in processing sensory information. If a child has a disorganized response to sensory input they may appear hyperactive, hyperverbal, distractible, and disorganized. These children may seek out additional stimulation to increase their knowledge of where their body is in space or to reduce hypersensitivity to other sensations. These children like to rock, bang their heads against the couch or chair, jump on beds, squeeze between furniture, and hide under blankets. They are attempting to “self-regulate” their nervous system.[2]
In our bodies, sensory information is received from taste, touch, auditory, smell, visual, proprioceptive (sense of relative positioning), and vestibular (balance and sense of spatial orientation). It is essential that the nervous centers receive appropriate information depicting the orientation of the head with respect to the body. By far, the most important proprioceptive information needed for the maintenance of equilibrium is that derived from the receptors in the neck.[3] Chiropractic can directly influence the visual, proprioceptive and vestibular forms of receiving sensory information.
Chiropractic care improves the autonomic nervous system balance and functioning. Therefore, it indirectly improves the ability to focus and self-regulate. It can help induce a calmer, more organized state as well as clear restrictions that may actually be causing difficulties in arousal, modulation, and self-regulation.[4]
Chiropractic and Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome is a congenital condition and includes features of mental retardation, muscle weakness, short stature, cardiac anomalies, flat facial profile, short and low set ears, protruding broad and furrowing tongue, and several other unique characteristics.
Chiropractic care benefit a person with Down Syndrome by slowing the progression of many attributes related to the quality of life, such as lax ligaments promoting precocious spine degeneration; degenerative scoliosis; slippage of vertebrae; abnormalities of the shoulder, hip, and patella; postural and weight bearing problems; overuse syndromes; nerve entrapments; and nerve compressions. Most importantly Chiropractic care removes interference of the nervous system, allowing everyone to express his or her full potential.[1]
Chiropractic and Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a motor condition that causes physical disability in human development. A child with Cerebral Palsy can present with failing to meet expected developmental milestones. Abnormal muscle tone is the most frequently observed symptom. Children with Cerebral Palsy may have an early period of muscle weakness followed by abnormal tightness in muscle tone and a decreased ability in muscles to stretch.
Realistic changes with Chiropractic care can include reduced spasticity of the entire body. Removal of nerve interference can create a more optimum relationship between the nervous system and body. Activities of daily living improve, minimizing overuse syndromes, improving sleeping, and relaxing hypertonic muscles. Children who drool excessively may benefit from adjustments to the jaw muscles. Muscle work in common areas of contracture (paraspinals, lateral thighs, lower extremity adductors, Achilles tendon, and wrist extensors) may be useful to decrease the severity of spinal distortion and aid in stabilization of gait patterns and function.[1]
Chiropractic and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism is defined by three main attributes, such as social abnormalities, language abnormalities with limited development of language, and rigid stereotyped repetitive patterns of unusual behavior.
There are many cases of favorable outcomes for a child with Autism and Chiropractic care. The positive benefits resulting from Chiropractic care can be linked to improvements in immune function, digestive disorders, management of Chron’s Disease, seizure disorders, behavioral changes, and a more lively and responsive interaction with the surrounding environment.[2]
Chiropractic and Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophies are genetic disorders characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness that begin with microscopic changes in the muscle. As muscles degenerate over time, muscle strength declines.
The removal of nerve interference and restoring proper nerve communication through specific Chiropractic care assists in managing scoliosis, relieving overuse syndromes, improving activities of daily living, and allowing a child to function at their full potential.[3]
Chiropractic and Vitality 
By removing neurological disturbances (called subluxations) and allowing the free flow of nerve communication from the brain, through the spinal column, to all parts of the human body, children will have a better opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Regardless of a child’s behavioral, developmental, and health challenges, the Chiropractic approach to health is natural and does not try to stimulate or inhibit normal body function. By minimizing nerve interference through chiropractic adjustments, the natural strengths of the child’s body are maximized, increasing the body’s capacity to heal itself so that normal body function may take place.
[1] Mullin, D.C., F.I.C.P.A, F.G.C.S.S.
[2] Mullin, D.C., F.I.C.P.A, F.G.C.S.S.
[3] Mullin, D.C., F.I.C.P.A, F.G.C.S.S.
[1] Mullin, D.C., F.I.C.P.A, F.G.C.S.S. The Challenged Child. ICPA Seminar Notes, 2008.
[1] Anrig, DC; A New Frontier for Caring for the Child With ADHD and Sensory Integration Dysfunction; www.drclaudiaanrig.com
[2] Buerger, DC. Neurosensory Integration. ICPA Seminar Notes, 2008
[3] Guyton, MD. Textbook of Medical Physiology. WB Saunders 1996: 711
[4] Buerger, DC.
Elevate Family Chiropractic
[...] Chiropractic care improves the autonomic nervous system balance and functioning. Therefore, it indirectly improves the ability to focus and self-regulate. It can help induce a calmer, more organized state as well as clear restrictions that may actually be causing difficulties in arousal, modulation, and self-regulation.[2] [...]
Chiropractic & the Challenged Child | Elevate Health & Wellness said this on 28/01/2011 at 1:27 pm |
[...] needed for the maintenance of equilibrium is that derived from the receptors in the neck.[3] Chiropractic can directly influence the visual, proprioceptive and vestibular forms of receiving [...]
Chiropractic & the Challenged Child | Elevate Health & Wellness said this on 28/01/2011 at 1:27 pm |