A NewsUSA article titled “Can Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Help Prevent ADHD in Kids?” appeared in the April 24, 2014, issue of the Seaside Courier from California. The article began with a warning, “Pregnant women might want to think twice before reaching for that pain pill.” The article was in response to a recent study showing that acetaminophen, the generic name for Tylenol, may be linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. They also note that acetaminophen is the most common drug taken by pregnant women.
The original study published in the February 2014 issue of JAMA Pediatrics showed that ADHD was more likely to develop in children whose mothers took acetaminophen during their pregnancy. A USA Today article that ran shortly after the release of the original study listed some of the results showing that children whose mothers used the drug during pregnancy were:
- 3% more likely to show ADHD-like behaviors, such as hyperactivity and conduct problems.
- 37% more likely to be diagnosed with hyperkinetic disorder, which is the equivalent of “high end” ADHD.
- 29% more likely to get ADHD medications.
The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) issued a response to this study noting that, “One drug-free alternative that continues to gain popularity is chiropractic care. The American Pregnancy Association notes it can help ‘maintain a healthier pregnancy’ overall while also potentially “controlling symptoms of nausea, reducing the time of labor and delivery, relieving back, neck or joint pain, and preventing potential cesarean delivery.”
In the F4CP release, Gerard Clum, DC, former president of Life Chiropractic College West and spokesperson for the F4CP noted, “Doctors of Chiropractic complete a typical undergraduate education along with a four-year postgraduate curriculum to earn their D.C. degree, and are trained to work with pregnant women. Establishing pelvic balance and spinal alignment are focal points of chiropractic care, helping reduce pain symptoms of postural changes and increased lower back curvature.”