(07/22/10 – Oakdale, MN) A small study group of children suffering from Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, was put into chiropractic care for up to five months in a controlled research project, as reported in a recent issue of Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing.
Following the study, all of the participating children showed marked improvement in their condition.
“Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD as it is commonly known, is characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness,” said Oakdale-based Dr. Ben Smetana, D.C. “This problem must be diagnosed medically and is usually treated with a combination of psycho-therapy and prescription medication. This study gives hope for an alternative course of care.”
The subjects of this particular study—four male youths, ranging in age from 9- to 13-years old—began chiropractic care on a 3-times per week basis for eight weeks, then decreased frequency of visits to twice a week for eight weeks and, thereafter, once per week. The care consisted of spinal manipulation, with the addition of nutritional supplements.
During the course of the chiropractic care, results were checked using a 15-item, “ADHD Monitoring System Questionnaire,” which has been developed and approved by experts in the field to determine the efficacy of various methods of care. Parents and teachers complete the questionnaire periodically, and their responses are tabulated to show progress, or lack thereof.

According to the published case study,

Our retrospective case series observed continued improvement in only five months of [chiropractic] care. Regardless, this study provides supporting evidence that chiropractic may abate the symptoms of ADHD and may provide a complementary or alternative care approach to allopathic care approaches (i.e., stimulant medication). The chiropractic perspective in the care of patients with ADHD is not one of ‘all or none’ (i.e., care results in no effect or complete remission of ADHD), but rather the symptoms of ADHD are abated (i.e., ‘like a dimmer for the lights’) concomitant with improvement in spinal function.

“This study represents a very preliminary level of findings, and much more research is needed,” Dr. Smetana added. “But the results should offer some encouragement for parents of children with this problem.”
Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Smetana, whose office is located at 1015 Helmo Ave N. Oakdale, MN (telephone 651.739.2500).

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Reference:
“The chiropractic care of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A retrospective cases series,” Explore (May/June 2010) Vol. 6, No. 3, 173-182.

Tags: Dr. Ben Smetana, Dr. Heidi Salonek