Labelle Chiropractic Clinic

Objective:To present current mainstream and alternative
theories about learning disabilities, with a special emphasis on dyslexia, as
well as to systematically review the chiropractic and related literature about
the effects of chiropractic care in people suffering from learning disabilities
and dyslexia, and to compare chiropractic causal theories to accepted medical
models.

Methods: Computerized and hand searching of the various
databases Mantis, ICL, CRAC as well as the Proceedings of the International
College of Applied Kinesiology were conducted with the following index terms:
“dyslexia”, “learning”, “learning disabilities”, “learning disorders”, “applied
kinesiology”, and “neurologic disorganization”. The retrieved literature was
selected or rejected according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria
and was subsequently classified according to level of evidence and critically
reviewed on predefined methodologic criteria. We also compared the various
causal chiropractic theories to accepted mainstream science causal theories of
learning disability and dyslexia.

Results: Eight studies met our criteria. Four of them
belonged to the lowest class of evidence, for a total of 25 anecdotal reports.
The remaining four were before/after studies. None of the studies met all of our
predefined methodologic criteria. Points of interests and methodologic
weaknesses are discussed.

Conclusion:All studies reviewed suggested a positive effect
of chiropractic care in individuals suffering from learning disabilities and
dyslexia. However, the various methodological weaknesses of those studies
preclude any definitive conclusions and all the results are therefore to be
considered preliminary. Within those limitations, there seem to exist a
potential role for chiropractic care in improving various cognitive modalities
known to be essential in learning. The model of vertebral subluxation and its
effects on cognitive function may serve as a link between the field of
chiropractic care and the neuroscience of those disorders.