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In the past decade, prescriptions for Ritalin, a stimulant medication commonly used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), increased five-fold, with 90 percent of all prescriptions worldwide consumed in the United States. As many parents grow leery of the traditional medical approach to ADHD, doctors of chiropractic are offering promising results with non-drug treatments that focus on postural muscles, nutrition and lifestyle changes that affect brain activity.

Some children may simply have difficulty learning certain subjects, but the current system—in a sense—prompts school officials to encourage their parents to have the children diagnosed with ADHD, says Dr. Scott Bautch, past president of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Council on Occupational Health. "The higher the number of disabled kids in the school, the more funding the school can apply for," says Dr. Bautch.

Some teachers might also have difficulty with students who have a different style of learning, according to Dr. Bautch. If the child is a visual learner—and the teacher is not—perhaps the child is not being taught in a way he or she can learn. Before diagnosing the child with ADHD, Dr. Bautch recommends doctors talk to the child and the parents: "Is the child too active? Bored? Has dyslexia or a different learning pattern? It can be a behavior problem, problems at home, or frustrations with the teacher's style," explains Dr. Bautch. "If we went to a conference where the speakers taught in a way we can't learn, we would be frustrated and would misbehave—we'd get up and leave or chat to the person sitting next to us."

The traditional medical model, however, seems to follow the cookie-cutter principle. The diagnosis of ADHD is based on a questionnaire. But this is not enough, says Dr. Robert Melillo, a chiropractic neurologist. "True ADHD patients have other signs — tics, tremors, balance or postural problems, or unusual sensitivity to touch, movement, sights, or sounds." Unfortunately, although medications can keep ADHD under control, they don't cure it. Eighty percent of patients have ADHD features in adolescence, and up to 65 percent maintain them in adulthood.

Doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic neurologists offer a non-drug and non-invasive treatment alternative for ADHD patients that targets the underlying problems, not just symptoms. "Motor activity—especially development of the postural muscles—is the baseline function of brain activity. Anything affecting postural muscles will influence brain development. Musculoskeletal imbalance will create imbalance of brain activity, and one part of the brain will develop faster than the other, and that's what's happening in ADHD patients," says Dr. Melillo.

Although currently no studies comparing chiropractic neurological and medical treatment for ADHD are available, chiropractic neurologists are compiling the data. "We test children before they start the treatment and then every three months," says Dr. Melillo. "Within the first three months, the children get a two-grade-level increase on average—which is pretty dramatic. With children on medications, the improvement in academic performance is short term and lasts only as long as they take the medication. Our programs change the brain function and the improvement doesn't go away."

While chiropractic neurologists have found success in treating ADHD and learning disabilities by providing the necessary brain stimulation, they also recommend nutrition and lifestyle changes that may help correct or prevent biochemical imbalances that cause ADHD. Parents are encouraged to:

* Remove as many food dyes, sugar, preservatives, and additives from the diet as possible.
* Focus on natural, mostly organic foods with as few pesticides or herbicides as possible.
* Determine if there is an allergy—usually starting with dairy and gluten and try elimination diets.
* Stop using pesticide sprays in the house.
* Avoid taking medications, nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs in pregnancy that may harm the fetus.
* Find ways to relax during pregnancy. Stress on the job may affect the unborn baby's health, as well.
* Breastfeed. The first months and years of a child's life are critical to physical and psychological development. Breastfeeding mothers' diets are important as well.

Chiropractic Care Can Help...
Doctors of chiropractic are trained to identify neurological problems and find individual non-invasive treatment modalities. They can also assess your nutritional status and help you find the diet that will help you manage your condition.

At Great Day Chiropractic and Wellness we can assess you or your child's diet and assist in implementing an elimination diet to check for allergies or sensitivities to certain foods. We can also provide exercises and therapies which will help correct poor posture and stimulate bilateral brain activity. Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive, natural way of approaching health. Please call if you have any questions regarding this article found on the American Chiropractic Association website or if you have further questions on how we can help you or your child today.

Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, sitting or lying down. Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement or weight-bearing activities. At Great Day Chiropractic and Wellness Center, we will perform a postural exam and correlate these findings with your X-ray to develop an individualized plan that will help you to retrain your muscles, increase your core strength, and correct your posture to alleviate the types of aches and pains that can be caused by poor posture.


Proper Posture
* Keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly.

* Helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in arthritis.

* Decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together.

* Prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions.

* Prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy.

* Prevents strain or overuse problems.

* Prevents backache and muscular pain.

* Contributes to a good appearance.


Correct Sitting Position
* Sit up with your back straight and your shoulders back. Your buttocks should touch the back of your chair.

* All three normal back curves should be present while sitting. A small, rolled-up towel or a lumbar roll can be used to help you maintain the normal curves in your back.

Here's how to find a good sitting position when you're not using a back support or lumbar roll:
* Sit at the end of your chair and slouch completely.
* Draw yourself up and accentuate the curve of your back as far as possible. Hold for a few seconds.
* Release the position slightly (about 10 degrees). This is a good sitting posture.
* Distribute your body weight evenly on both hips.
* Bend your knees at a right angle. Keep your knees even with or slightly higher than your hips. (use a foot rest or stool if necessary). Your legs should not be crossed.
* Keep your feet flat on the floor.
* Try to avoid sitting in the same position for more than 30 minutes.
* At work, adjust your chair height and work station so you can sit up close to your work and tilt it up at you. Rest your elbows and arms on your chair or desk, keeping your shoulders relaxed.
* When sitting in a chair that rolls and pivots, don't twist at the waist while sitting. Instead, turn your whole body.
* When standing up from the sitting position, move to the front of the seat of your chair. Stand up by straightening your legs. Avoid bending forward at your waist. Immediately stretch your back by doing 10 standing back bends.

Correct Driving Position
* Use a back support (lumbar roll) at the curve of your back. Your knees should be at the same level or higher than your hips.
* Move the seat close to the steering wheel to support the curve of your back. The seat should be close enough to allow your knees to bend and your feet to reach the pedals.

You've probably been sitting most of the Winter working at the computer, studying/working, or in front of the TV. Once the weather starts getting warmer and the sun is staying out longer, take the opportunity to start a fitness program. Do a variety of fun activities like walking, dancing, golfing, playing volleyball or tennis, swimming, and more. It doesn't need to be hard to be beneficial. Avoid injury by starting any new activity slowly. Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles.

If you're thinking, "How can I meet the guidelines each week?" Don't worry. You'll be surprised by the variety of activities you have to choose from. To meet the guidelines for aerobic activity, basically anything counts, as long as it's done at a moderate- or vigorous-intensity for at least 10 minutes at a time. By picking physical activities you enjoy and that match your abilities, it will help ensure that you stick with them.

Doing activity that requires moderate effort is safe for most people. But if you have a chronic health condition such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, or other symptoms be sure to talk with your doctor about the types and amounts of physical activity that are right for you.

As a patient at Great Day Chiropractic & Wellness Center, you will receive stretches and exercises that are specific to your condition, that will help rehabilitate your body, get you in-shape for exercising, and increase your strength and ability for exercise.