Spinal misalignment does not create ADHD in a child who does not have it. What it can do is worsen the neurological dysregulation that a child with ADHD is already experiencing. The brainstem, seated directly below the upper cervical vertebrae, manages arousal and sensory filtering. When misalignment in that region produces even low-grade interference, the child's nervous system has to work harder to accomplish tasks that should be automatic. The result is a child who appears more distractible, more reactive, and more fatigued than their underlying neurology would otherwise produce.
Dr. Bronstein at Beacon Clinic of Chiropractic evaluates this relationship in every pediatric ADHD patient. Correcting the misalignment does not eliminate ADHD. It can, however, reduce the additional neurological burden the child is carrying, making the other strategies in their treatment plan more effective.
