Effectiveness of Manual Therapy in the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Procedure: craniosacral therapy techniques., Placebo Group.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Basic parameters: 6 years — 12 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Spain
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
The main objective is to determine whether Manual Therapy (MT), in addition to conventional treatment, is more effective in improving ADHD symptoms than the application of conventional treatment alone.
Detailed description
Background ADHD is a disorder that affects attention, behavior control, and emotions in children. Although medication and behavioral therapy can help, not all children respond well or may experience side effects, which leads to the search for alternative options. This disorder affects the daily lives of both the child and their family, and in adulthood, it can cause emotional, social, and work-related problems. Treatment usually includes medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, parent training, and techniques such as mindfulness. A newer option is manual therapy (MT), which uses massage and craniosacral therapy to support the nervous system and improve emotional and behavioral regulation. Although some studies have shown promising results, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
Materials and Methods: A randomized clinical trial will be conducted. The minimum sample size required for statistical significance is 60 subjects, divided into two groups with 30 participants each. The primary variable will be hyperactivity and attention deficit, assessed using the Conners Parent Rating Scale and the Conners Teacher Rating Scale. The secondary variable will be mood, measured using a facial expression scale.
Objetives To determine whether the addition of manual therapy to conventional treatment is more effective in improving ADHD symptoms than conventional treatment alone.
Interventions
- Procedure Procedure: craniosacral therapy techniques.
Participants in the experimental group will receive Manual Therapy (MT) designed for this study, which will include craniosacral therapy techniques. The sessions will last 40 minutes and will be conducted twice a week for the first 4 weeks, followed by once a week for the final 4 weeks. - Procedure Placebo Group
The placebo group will receive a dummy treatment with a duration of 40min, twice a week for the firt 4 week, follwed by once a week for the final 4 week.
Primary outcome measures
- Symptoms of ADHD (Parents Rating Scale) [Time frame: At the star of the study (at basilne, 0 week), After the 2nd session (at the end of the first week), after 12th session (at the end of the eight week) and 4 months from the last session (24th week).]
- Symptoms of ADHD (Teacher Rating Scale) [Time frame: At the star of the study (at basilne, 0 week), After the 2nd session (at the end of the first week), after 12th session (at the end of the eight week) and 4 months from the last session (24th week).]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Mood [Time frame: At the star of the study (at basilne, 0 week), After the 2nd session (at the end of the first week), after 12th session (at the end of the eight week) and 4 months from the last session (24th week).]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Confirmed ADHD diagnosis according to DSM-5 criteria.
- Children and adolescents aged 6 to 12 years.
- Availability to attend all Manual Therapy (MT) sessions.
- Informed consent signed by legal guardians.
Exclusion criteria
- Severe concomitant psychiatric or neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, severe autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia).
- Medical conditions that contraindicate MT (e.g., fractures, severe scoliosis, connective tissue diseases).
- Recent use of or changes in ADHD medication within the past 4 weeks.
- Simultaneous participation in other interventional studies.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Spain · 1 center
- Grupo de Investigación Área de Fisioterapia CTS 305 - Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spa — Alcalá de Henares
Publications
- Chan SKC, Zhang D, Bogels SM, Chan CS, Lai KYC, Lo HHM, Yip BHK, Lau ENS, Gao TT, Wong SYS. Effects of a mindfulness-based intervention (MYmind) for children with ADHD and their parents: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2018 Nov 12;8(11):e022514. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022514. PMID 30420347
- Accorsi A, Lucci C, Di Mattia L, Granchelli C, Barlafante G, Fini F, Pizzolorusso G, Cerritelli F, Pincherle M. Effect of osteopathic manipulative therapy in the attentive performance of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2014 May;114(5):374-81. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2014.074. PMID 24778002
- Danckaerts M, Sonuga-Barke EJ, Banaschewski T, Buitelaar J, Dopfner M, Hollis C, Santosh P, Rothenberger A, Sergeant J, Steinhausen HC, Taylor E, Zuddas A, Coghill D. The quality of life of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010 Feb;19(2):83-105. doi: 10.1007/s00787-009-0046-3. Epub 2009 Jul 26. PMID 19633992
- Crouzet L, Gramond A, Suehs C, Fabbro-Peray P, Abbar M, Lopez-Castroman J. Third-generation cognitive behavioral therapy versus treatment-as-usual for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2022 Jan 28;23(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05983-2. PMID 35090544
- Bellato A, Arora I, Hollis C, Groom MJ. Is autonomic nervous system function atypical in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? A systematic review of the evidence. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 Jan;108:182-206. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.11.001. Epub 2019 Nov 10. PMID 31722229
- Polanczyk G, de Lima MS, Horta BL, Biederman J, Rohde LA. The worldwide prevalence of ADHD: a systematic review and metaregression analysis. Am J Psychiatry. 2007 Jun;164(6):942-8. doi: 10.1176/ajp.2007.164.6.942. PMID 17541055
- Robertz AC, Tornhage CJ, Nilsson S, Nyman V, Kantzer AK. Positive effects of tactile massage for adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - A small scale study. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2024 Nov;57:101909. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2024.101909. Epub 2024 Sep 25. PMID 39332064
- Musser ED, Backs RW, Schmitt CF, Ablow JC, Measelle JR, Nigg JT. Emotion regulation via the autonomic nervous system in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2011 Aug;39(6):841-52. doi: 10.1007/s10802-011-9499-1. PMID 21394506
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07029425 · USeville-PFB