article archive
February 2007
Study shows chiropractic may help children with learning
disorders and dyslexia
A recent study, published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation
Research (JVSR), suggests that chiropractic care may offer
significant benefits to children suffering from learning
disabilities and dyslexia. The research was conducted by Swiss
chiropractor Yannick Pauli, DC, president of the Swiss Chiropractic
Pediatric Association, who specializes in the care of children
suffering from learning and behavioral disorders.
"This review critically assessed eight previously published
studies involving a total of 160 children," Dr. Pauli
explained. "Although the results remain preliminary
and more research is needed, the evidence strongly suggests
that chiropractic care may help various cognitive abilities
that are essential to learning."
Learning disorders and dyslexia affect between three and
ten percent of school‑aged children in the United Sates.
Individuals with these disorders often suffer from low self‑esteem,
diminished motivation, loss of interest in school and problems
in social functioning, and academic difficulties. Pauli noted
that the same areas of neurological dysfunction that can
lead to learning disabilities and interfere with learning
can also interfere with life skills, sport activities, and
family and peer relationships.
"Learning disorders and dyslexia are increasingly recognized
as a neurodevelopmental disorder," he stated. "Children
suffering from those problems have parts of their brain that
are not functioning adequately or are even delayed in their
development. Among those dysfunctional areas is a small part
located at the back of the brain called the cerebellum. The
cerebellum plays a vital role in learning. It helps the brain
coordinate and integrate the various sensory information,
as well as to increase the processing speed of the brain."
Numerous
factors can affect the proper development of the brain, including
maternal stress during pregnancy, traumatic birth, poor diet,
and sedentary lifestyle. In a press release distributed by
the World Chiropractic Alliance on behalf of JVSR, Pauli stressed
that, contrary to popular belief, chiropractic is not restricted
to back pain in adults. "The only source of constant stimulation
to the brain comes from the spine and the postural muscles
constantly adjusting to the force of gravity," he explained. "If
the daily physical stresses of life cause misalignments in
the spine ‑‑ called vertebral subluxations by
chiropractors ‑‑ the brain is not adequately
stimulated. This can cause problems throughout the body."
He added that chiropractic adjustments, even when no back
problems are evident, can improve the function of the spine
and strongly stimulate nerve pathways to the cerebellum and
other parts of the brain. "In the case of children,
this may, in turn, help brain functions necessary for learning," he
said. Matthew McCoy, DC, editor of JVSR, commented that "this
study is an exciting first step. It shows the beneficial
effect of chiropractic care and may offer hope for thousands
of suffering children."
This study is part of a larger effort undertaken by chiropractors
to document and assess the potential benefits of chiropractic
care in the field of learning disorders and other so‑called
mental disorders such as ADHD, obsessive‑compulsive
disorders and even autism."
JVSR is a peer-reviewed scientific journal devoted
to subluxation‑centered chiropractic research affiliated
with the World Chiropractic Alliance, an international organization
representing doctors of chiropractic and promoting the traditional,
drug‑free and wellness‑oriented form of chiropractic.
An
abstract of the research report is available at www.jvsr.com.