Chiropractic Care on Behavior, Neurological Function and Quality of Life in ADHD Children - A Pilot Study
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity
MeSH terms: Hyperkinesis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      To date the effects of chiropractic care on behavior and neurological function in children
      diagnosed with ADHD has not been investigated thoroughly and is limited mostly to case
      studies and retrospective case reviews. Our research group recently completed a pilot study
      that investigated the effects of a single session of chiropractic care on oculomotor function
      and reading ability in children with ADHD. The findings of this study suggested that
      chiropractic care may have a role in improving oculomotor control and reading ability in this
      population group. This proposed study is the next step in this program of research and is a
      pilot clinical trial that will investigate whether 4 weeks of chiropractic care influences
      behavior, neurological function, or quality of life in children with ADHD.
    

Detailed description: 
      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.
    

Intervention name(s): Experimental group; Control group
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): the intervention group will receive 4 weeks of chiropractic care along with usual care(Cognitive-Behavioral, psychosocial Therapy).; Participants in the group will receive usual health (Cognitive-Behavioral, psychosocial Therapy) care or wish to engage in during the course of the study as well as receiving a passive movement control intervention delivered by a chiropractor 3 times per week in the same hospital setting as the group receiving chiropractic care.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Children; Chiropractic; Neurological function; Quality of life