If you’re a parent of a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), you’re probably on the lookout for the most effective, non-invasive treatments possible to relieve symptoms. You may even suffer from this common condition yourself. Whenever possible, people may prefer to reduce the need for medications for their children or themselves. One natural method that’s become part of many ADHD treatment plans is chiropractic care.
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What is ADHD?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder usually diagnosed during early life when parents and teachers notice that a child is much more impulsive, restless, or less attentive than other children. The symptoms can cause a lot of difficulty in a child’s life, affecting their social relationships and school performance. Girls are about half as likely as boys to have ADHD. They may not exhibit the hyperactive behavior that boys often do.
Dr. Travis Ring of Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic says that the causes of ADHD aren’t entirely known, but suspected factors include genetics, problems during pregnancy or delivery, and brain injuries. Parents should have their child evaluated by a specialist such as a developmental pediatrician to get the most reliable diagnosis and treatment results.
Chiropractic Care Benefits the Nervous System and Brain
You need a healthy nervous system and spine for a healthy brain. Your brain depends on receiving high-quality signals through the nervous system to think clearly and control your body properly.
When your spine isn’t in perfect alignment, the signals to the brain are disrupted. In a child whose brain is showing symptoms of ADHD, it’s even more important to ensure that their nervous system is healthy.
Studies have shown improvement in ADHD symptoms with spinal adjustments and massages. Chiropractic adjustments correct misalignments of the spine, restoring vertebrae to their proper position. This allows the nervous system to communicate with the brain unimpeded. The brain then receives the stimulation it needs to function effectively.
In children with ADHD, researchers theorize that chiropractic adjustments can affect how well the nervous system functions, improving sensorimotor skills. These skills involve a person’s ability to process incoming information from the senses and then respond to it. Everyone, especially children with ADHD, needs these sensorimotor skills to function at their best to perform all the daily tasks of life.
Natural Treatments for ADHD
Chiropractic care is used increasingly as part of treatment plans for ADHD. Parents may often first want to explore non-drug treatments for their child, including behavior therapy. Even if your child responds positively to medication, they can benefit as well from a natural plan that includes treatments such as behavior and chiropractic therapies.
Additionally, a healthy lifestyle is vitally important for all children, and especially those with ADHD. Lots of exercises, a good diet, and plenty of sleep help the brain to function optimally.
The basis of chiropractic care is delivering holistic treatments that benefit overall health and allow the body to heal itself naturally. The more you incorporate natural therapies and healthy habits into your child’s life, the more fit their bodies and brains will be.