Chiropractic

Chiropractic Care for Attention Deficit Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Beyond
Chiropractic care has been around since 1895 as a named profession, but in reality it has been practiced for thousands of years. The physical manipulation of the body’s joints has been recognized as having healing powers as far back as the ancient Greeks. While the practice is old, the understanding and scientific explanation of how Chiropractic adjustments benefits patients expands every day.

Chiropractic’s primary focus is on the detection and correction of misalignment in the spinal column. These misalignments can cause interference in the transmission or reception of signals within the body’s system of nerves. The individual vertebrae of the spinal column house and protect the spinal cord, which together with the brain comprises the central nervous system. The brain sends signals to the muscles and organs by way of the spinal cord, which in turn, send signals back to the brain. When a disruption of this communication occurs, the body becomes stressed and no longer functions as it should.

Some of the ways a vertebral bone can become misaligned include traumatic birth, sleeping in a car seat without any neck support, standing/walking too early which interferes with the correct curve the neck should have, accidents or falls, repetitive strain while carrying heavy backpacks or awkward sleeping position, or poor posture.
Chiropractors are specialists in detecting and correcting these misalignments spending many years in training. Chiropractors must pass national board examinations and are licensed in all 50 states to practice.

A case history and physical examination are customary during the initial visit. Depending on the individual, X-rays may be taken. The findings are discussed and the Doctor of Chiropractic will provide a treatment plan for you.

How could a chiropractor help with attention deficit disorder?

In the case of adults or children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), very often there is a misalignment of the top bone of the spinal column called the Atlas or C1. Researchers at Harvard Medical School’s Department of Neuro-Biology have discovered that nerves from the spinal cord travel to the limbic system of the brain. The limbic system is responsible for regulating emotion, behavior, motivation, long-term memory, and sense of smell. These nerves that originate in the upper spinal cord near the C1 area carry sensory information such as touch, temperature, pressure, and the position of the spinal joints into the limbic system and therefore can impact behavioral functions. Therefore, when the C1 area is misaligned, the limbic system is being fed aberrant information about joint pressure and position leading to a negative impact in behavior.

A short series of gentle chiropractic adjustments to correct this misalignment can prove very helpful. There are a number of ways of performing chiropractic adjustments, including by hand or by instrument. There is rarely any pain or discomfort with the adjustment. You chiropractor may instruct you on a home exercise plan and will tailor your treatment schedule and protocol based on your individual needs. It is not uncommon to require treatment more frequently in the beginning of care with a reduction in frequency as time goes by and progress is made.

While a misaligned spine is an often overlooked contributor of ADHD, it may not be the only problem. Therefore, your chiropractor may recommend for you to continue or pursue additional or complimentary treatments. The modern chiropractor is part of a working team of professionals, all working together to help you achieve your health goals.

How could chiropractic care help with sensory processing issues?

The joints in the human frame are lined with nerve cells that act as sensors called mechanoreceptors. There are 4 main types: 1) Meissner corpuscles – respond to light touch. 2) Ruffini endings – tension deep in the skin and fascia. 3) Merkel discs – detect sustained pressure. 4) Pacinian corpuscles – sensitivity to vibration and pressure. Additionally, the ligaments of the body are embedded with special nerve cells called proprioceptors, which provide information back to the brain about body position. The spine has many ligamentous connections, and is therefore a rich source of proprioceptive nerve cells.

When the joint has proper movement, these mechanoreceptors are stimulated and send signals to the brain (first up the dorsal column nuclei, then to the thalamus, then to the somatosensory cortex). Your brain depends on this nerve stimulation from the joints of the body for its health and well-being and to assure optimal neurological function. Reciprocally, there are nerve signals that are sent back to the joint from the brain to stimulate the local muscles. This reflex actually helps to stabilize and strengthen the joint, and provides a baseline muscle tone of the body. When a spinal (or any) joint is not moving properly, this communication feedback loop is interrupted. Chiropractors locate spinal joints that are out of proper alignment or have improper motion and apply a gentle force (either by hand or instrument) to help restore the proper motion, which in turn engages these nerve endings and ensures proper sensory mechanoreceptor information is being processed by the brain.

Chiropractic is ultimately a sensory processing therapy for everyone!