Child with ADHD Helped with Chiropractic – A Case StudyA case study from the June 2009 issue of the scientific periodical the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics documents the case of a six year old boy who was helped with ADHD through chiropractic care. In this case a young boy six years and 10 months old was previously diagnosed with ADHD by his pediatrician. As a result he was prescribed 30 mg of Ritalin per day.

The child was brought to a chiropractic facility for consultation and examination. The history from his mother noted that her son’s main issues were excessive talking, inability to remain seated, and impulsivity as displayed by constantly interrupting other students in school. As reported by his mother, the case study also noted that the child often displayed impulsive behavior, but that he was also considered to have above average intelligence. The case noted that he received good grades and his reading was at an advanced level. His mother attempted to enroll him into a behavioral program offered at his school while still in the 1st grade but was unable to do so.

The young boy began receiving chiropractic adjustments twice a week for two weeks and then once a week for four weeks. After six weeks of care a re-evaluation was performed at which time the boy’s mother reported that her son showed improved focus and compliance with directives. Shortly after the initial 6-week revaluation school started. The case report documented that the boy’s teachers and bus drivers noted marked improvement in behavior and his report card showed he was receiving good grades at the follow up visits. The results also stated, “Through this course of treatment, the child was able to discontinue use of the medication previously prescribed to control the symptoms of ADHD.”
In conclusion, the authors wrote, “This case study shows the positive improvements of one child’s symptoms of ADHD under the care of a chiropractor. As pharmaceutical research continues to be undertaken, so should the study of alternative, non pharmaceutical recourses such as chiropractic adjustments based on practice-based information of positive outcomes with few side effects.”

 

As a Chiropractor, we deal with nerve impingements everyday. The term, Subluxation, is exactly that. Subluxation’s true definition is, simply put, a misalignment between two or more vertebrae which puts endangering pressure on the nervous system.  Hence why Children and adults alike whom seek chiropractic care for ADHD symptoms have great response. Interestingly enough, many adult patients whom have experienced a decrease in ADHD symptoms initially presented to our office with more physical pain complaints such as neck pain, headaches etc. and were not expecting to see the internal changes that take place. That is the amazing thing about Chiropractic! It is not complicated; the nervous system controls every cell, tissue and organ in the body, thus with impinged nervous system we have impaired function. When we, as chiropractors, remove that subluxation and thus nerve stress, we allow the body to perform at its optimum performance and thus function normally as intended.

 

Here is a natural life change that needs to take place along with Chiropractic care to help improve ADHD in you or your child.

 

Lifestyle Pattern- Required

Record daily dietary history- with symptoms

Dietary Modification required

a)       No Hydogrogenated fats. Use prepared foods with high oleic safflower, high oleic sunflower, olive and coconut oils. French Fries baked or cooked in approved oils

b)      No Cows milk. Substitute with nut or grain milk. Breakfast with oatmeal, eggs, almond butter, bean burritos. Use imagination. Minimal refined carbohydrates

c)      No refined sugar. Use stevia, barley malt, brown rice syrup. Use juice sweetened spritzers vs soda for a substitute beverage.

 

Exercise Regularly

Walk, run, play basketball, swim bike jump rope, etc… Do some type of regular exercise three times weekly, 20 minute minimum.

 

First month

            Take 1 salmon capsule/night for first 18 days.

            Take 1 tablespoon of falx oil per 100lbs daily ( or 12 capsules per 100lb)

            Six vitamin B daily, 2 at each meal

            Three vitamin B6 daily, 1 at each meal

            Three mineral tablets daily, 1 at each meal

 

Second Month

            Daily take 1 tablespoon fax/ 12 capsules per 100lbs.

            Three vitamin B daily, 1 at each meal

            One vitamin B6 daily

            One mineral tablet daily

 

Diet Duration

Take one salmon capsule at night when hydrogenated fats, dairy or refined sugars is consumed.

 

ChiropracticUSA is located at 1004 Anna Knapp Blvd, ste 1. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.  Please call 843-881-0046 for further information or an appointment. 

Dr. Matthew Murrin, DC, BSc Kin, PFLC, CEP

or check us out at

www.chiropracticusasc.com

Dr. Murrin is a native of Newfoundland, Canada. He graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology, where he also served as professor while pursuing a Master’s degree. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, Iowa. He practiced for several years in Indianapolis, Indiana before coming to Mount Pleasant. He is the first wellness professional in Mount Pleasant certified in Active Release Technique (ART), a treatment that accelerates the patient’s recovery from a myriad of biomechanical injuries.

ChiropracticUSA deals with more than just the traditional pain associated with chiropractic treatment. The goal of the office is to educate and adjust as many families as possible towards optimal health through natural chiropractic care.
In addition to being a chiropractor, Dr. Murrin is also a Professional Fitness and Lifestyle Consultant (PFLC), the highest level of personal trainer in North America. As a result, he can make recommendations on simple changes in diet and exercise routines that help patients optimize their results toward total wellness.

Some of Dr Murrin’s special honors include:

Presidential Scholar- Palmer College, Awarded to the top 5 students with the highest grade point average over the four year degree

President of the Pi Tau Delta, the international Chiropractic Honor Society

President’s Honor List, Honor student for every semester at Palmer College of Chiropractic

Instructor- Physical Therapy Elective course at Palmer College

Sports Council, Palmer College of Chiropractic

Served as a chiropractor on a clinic abroad mission trip to Cochabamba, Bolivia

International student scholarship from Palmer College of Chiropractic

Professor at University of New Brunswick- lectured in Skeletal Muscle Physiology and Hypertrophy

Nominated for Allan P. Stuart award for Excellence in teaching at University of New Brunswick.

Lab Instructor for Human Physiology at University of New Brunswick

President of the Master’s program at University of New Brunswick

Instructor/director of a geriatric weight training class at University of New Brunswick called Happy Hearts, which involved strength training for elderly 65 and up

Professional Fitness and Lifestyle Consultant, PFLC, the highest level of Personal Trainer in North America

Certified Fitness Consultant, CFC

Certified Exercise Physiologist, CEP

Youngest personal trainer in the history of Canada, (received first certification at age 16).

Research published in the May 10, 2009 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine reported that women with an increased curvature in the middle back, known as kyphosis or sometimes known as Dowager’s Hump, is associated with a shorter lifespan. Articles in the May 26, 2009 Science Daily and in Medscape on June 2, 2009 also reported on the research and noted that this research was different from previous research in that the researchers factored out such things as compression fractures and other problems typically present with spinal kyphosis.

The study looked at 610 women, aged 67 – 93 years, measuring their mid back curvatures (Kyphosis) and then following up over a 13.5 year period to see the correlations between the participants kyphosis curvatures and their mortality. The results showed that an increase in kyphosis carried a 1.14-fold increased risk for death. Dr. Deborah Kado, the study’s primary investigator stated, “We demonstrated that having this age-related postural change is not a good thing. It could mean you’re likely to die sooner.”

In this study the researchers write, “This study demonstrates a possible association between hyperkyphosis and increased risk for earlier death independent of the number and severity of vertebral fractures or osteoporosis in older women.” Dr. Deborah Kado, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery and medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the study’s primary investigator added, “Just being bent forward may be an important clinical finding that should serve as a trigger to seek medical evaluation for possible spinal osteoporosis, as vertebral fractures more often than not are a silent disease.”

Dr. Gary Walsemann, a Doctor of Chiropractic for 40 years and president of the International Chiropractors Association commented on the research by explaining the significance from a chiropractic perspective. “Chiropractors have been saying for years that spinal distortions create health issues because of interference to the nervous system created by spinal distortions that we know as subluxations.” Dr. Walsemann continued, “This research serves to further highlight the connections between spinal problems and overall health.”

Physically Fit Students Do Better on Tests

 

Health and Fitness professionals alike know that the impact exercise has on the growing brain is unparalleled. Exercise improves cardiovascular health, and that helps the brain function more efficiently and enhances its ability to learn. We know this not only because we have read it, moreover, because we live it.  While doing 10 years of college, thus 10 years of studying, 10 years of exams, etc… exercise was an integral role of my academics. While others said, “ I have no time to exercise I have to study.” I often reminded them that exercise would not only provide them a cathartic release of their stress, it would also help with their cognitive function, thus allowing for better memory recall. Thus exercise allowed for more efficient studying and retention of information, feels good… hmmm I don’t see the negative here.

Several articles in Texas reported that children who are physically fit do better academically on standardized tests in their state. One article appearing on the The Dallas Morning News on March 9, 2009 noted that the Texas Education Agency released a study showing that students who are physically fit are more likely to do well on Texas achievement tests and are also less likely to have disciplinary problems.

Also on March 9, the online edition of The Houston Chronicle published an article on this study and quoted state Senator Jane Nelson, who commented, “Now, we have hard evidence that there is a link between fitness and academic success. We need to continue our efforts to decrease these trends as if lives depend on it, because they truly do.”

In the Dallas News story, state Education Commissioner Robert Scott said in a statement, “Texas is the first state to require an annual physical fitness assessment of public school students. Today’s research results show that improving our children’s physical fitness can have positive results not only for the children, but also for the schools as well.”

Texas Governor Rick Perry stated in the Houston Chronicle article, “Our state and nation are struggling with obesity, thanks to the combination of increasingly sedentary lifestyles and the declining quality of diets. We owe it to our children to take the appropriate steps to encourage fitness, steps that are made clearer by the information contained in this first round of testing. I am confident we are on our way to making a difference that will improve and even save lives.

Nowadays kids are playing video games, watching tv, etc… A sedentary life is not what the kids of our future need.  With obesity at a record high in the U.S. much has to be done to keep our kids fit, not only for their health and well being which is paramount, but also for the future academic endeavours.

 ChiropracticUSA is located at 1004 Anna Knapp Blvd, ste 1. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.  Please call 843-881-0046 for further information or an appointment. 

Dr. Matthew Murrin, DC, BSc Kin, PFLC, CEP

or check us out at

www.chiropracticusasc.com

Pediatric ADHD and Chiropractic

There is a strong distinction between adult ADHD and Pediatric ADHD, the adult can choose his/her course in resolving his disability, whereas the child is dependant on his/her parents to make an educated decision for him/her.  So let’s do that, let’s get educated on Pediatric ADHD.

There are 6 different types of ADHD; 1) Classical ADD, 2) Inattentive ADD, 3)Overfocussed ADD, 4)Temporal lobe ADD, 5) Limbic ADD, and 6)”Ring of Fire” ADD. (Amen, 2001) These types range from the traditional thought of ADD with it’s decreased attention span, to increased rage, to a combination of ADD and depression. Because society is truly informed solely on type 1, classical ADD, we will spend the rest of this blog discussing what the majority of the population and health care providers consider ADD. 

ADD is becoming one of the most common diagnoses given to children today, and more than 1.5 million children between the ages of 5-14 years are currently taking Ritalin for this condition. (Warner, 1997).  One of the reasons for this over-diagnosis is the clinical method in which many of the physicians are utilizing to diagnose, a checklist.  There are various different checklists that physicians use, ranging from thorough to general, and it depends on the physician’s attitude to which checklist is appropriate.  For example, a checklist may only consist of Innattention: loses things, is easily distracted, pays little attention to detail, makes careless mistakes, has short attention span, is forgetful in daily activities. And Hyperactivity: impulsivity fidgets, talks excessively. Whereas other checklists may begin brief and then further tests/checklists/questionnaires may be performed as well as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans which help visualize the brain and identify which areas of the brain are over-firing/under-firing on a regular basis and when challenged with a mental task.  As you can imagine the cost and time of running extra tests and SPECT scans can be quite extravagant and much more than the typical health care provider is willing to provide. (Amen, 2001)  (This is why there is an over-prescription/diagnosis of ADHD today.)

 

The other main problem, on top of the over-diagnosis, is the over-prescription that goes with it.  As the medical doctors diagnose the condition they attempt to treat automatically with what they know best, drugs.  However, drugs such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) the most common drug of choice for ADD, have various side effects such as lack of appetite, trouble falling asleep, headaches or stomachaches, irritability, crankiness, crying emotional sensitivity, staring into space, loss of interest in friends, tics, ( eye blinking, throat clearing), rapid pulse of increased blood pressure, nervous habits (Amen, 2001). Remember, this is your child.  Do you really want to put your child on a drug that is derived from the street drug Speed, and is not researched enough, (correctly and honestly) to give you honest results that this drug will not harm your child.  Wouldn’t you rather try alternative methods to help your child grow into the adult that he/she is destined to become? 

 

Alternative methods for treating ADD

Although physicians, as well as pharmacists are advised to explain to parents and the children that taking medication should be done as “part of a total treatment plan including psychological, educational and social measures” (Drug Monograph Print: Hy-Vee Food and Drug Center, 2005) it is rarely performed and medication is the sole avenue traveled.  However, the alternative approach is now increasing in popularity due to frustrated parents tired of drugging their children (Alcantara, 2002).  Alternative methods include Biochemical therapies such as vitamins and nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies, and Body therapies which include exercise, nutrition, environmental changes and mind-body techniques such as hypnosis, psychotherapy and biofeedback. Yet one of the most interesting is the Biomechanical therapies that include “spinal manipulation” and massage (Chan, 2002).

 

When you think of nervous system doctor, who do you think of?  Correct, a Chiropractor.  Therefore wouldn’t it make sense to bring a child with a nervous system illness/disorder to the specialist?  Chiropractors, and the chiropractic adjustment, help rid the body of interference in the nervous system and thus allow the body to work at its optimal level. A study conducted in 1989 by Giessen et al. reported that chiropractic adjustments helped to decrease the hyperactivity of children. As well, Texas A&M University conducted an independent research study comparing twelve children receiving chiropractic care and twelve children receiving medical care.  The results showed that the children receiving chiropractic care improved more than the children treated with drugs in areas such as verbal output, reading and comprehension, attitude and self esteem, coordination and emotional maturity (Singer, 2000). Therefore, chiropractic adjustments are an integral part of care for a child with ADHD. 

 

Don’t you think you deserve it to your child to look at these alternatives and help your child control and decrease his/her ADHD symptoms via natural and conservative methods?  It could be as simple as having your child see a chiropractor, modify his/her diet and exercise and work on a positive thought process program.  Aren’t these things all great for your child anyway?  Exactly.

 ChiropracticUSA is located at 1004 Anna Knapp Blvd, ste 1. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.  Please call 843-881-0046 for further information or an appointment. 

Dr. Matthew Murrin, DC, BSc Kin, PFLC, CEP

or check us out at

www.chiropracticusasc.com

 

            As a chiropractor and personal trainer, I have great respect for the body.  I am amazed at how the body adapts to its stresses and grows in order to get stronger and more functional.  It was this love and admiration of the body that lead me to create “Happy Hearts.”  Happy Hearts was a strength training class I developed for the elderly population who lived in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, home to the University of New Brunswick.  While pursuing my Masters degree in the Science of Kinesiology I decided to volunteer my services and attempt to increase the fitness of the local seniors.  In doing so I booked out our University weight room and  created a two day per week weight training program, (Tuesday and Thursday at 10am-11:30).  I also arranged for a aerobics class to be taught by a peer of mine for Monday, Wednesday and Friday to improve their lung capacity and overall fitness.  When the ads were placed an instantaneously huge response occurred and our classes were full within a week.  The experience that occurred definitely changed my mindset of the elderly, and my life. 

            Initially, the seniors were nervous and uncomfortable with the foreign surroundings, weights, mirrors, the smell, etc… however after a few jokes and laughs and demonstrations, and jokes again all was calm and entertaining.  Soon the seniors began to intermix with one another, making connections, telling stories, telling jokes, etc… In time we grew to a very happy group of friends, even going out to dinner together, (they treated me because I was a poor student).  The camaraderie that developed was amazing but what was even more amazing was the transformation their bodies and minds took.  One senior, we’ll call her Stella, came in to class in very poor shape.  Stella was 87, was very gaunt, very week and had a difficult time walking, and most of all very shy.  I took Stella under my wing and provided a lot of one-on-one attention, and acted as her personal trainer throughout the session. Over the weeks Stella started to notice that her strength was improving, walking was becoming easier, and most of all I noticed her socializing with the group more.  Stella, a native of Germany, began to tell me of some of the horrors that were experienced in Nazi Germany, and her family life,etc.. she really began to open up.  To make a very long story short after 8 months training with me and the group Stella was a completely changed woman!  She was now able to open jars with her own hands, work around the house with ease, lift the vacuum up the stairs by herself, walked 5km per week in the park ( which I accompanied her on the cold/icy days), and most of all had met friends to talk to and enjoy their company.   Stella is just one story of many, and it doesn’t seem to do it justice to write it on a blog, it has to be told in person to experience the excitement that we all enjoyed together.

            In short, my “Happy Hearters” all improved dramatically in their physical fitness, functionality and, possibly most important, their confidence. (Ask me about a senior who began wearing bright yellow sports bras to work out in while her husband stared in admiration!).  I too learned much from this marvelous experience, that the body is an amazing adaptable organism, and that physical fitness is never too late at any age.  I hope I can be as happy as these seniors when it’s my turn to tease a young student and help him make his life decisions.

 

 ChiropracticUSA is located at 1004 Anna Knapp Blvd, ste 1. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.  Please call 843-881-0046 for further information or an appointment. 

Dr. Matthew Murrin, DC, BSc Kin, PFLC, CEP

or check us out at

www.chiropracticusasc.com