Pediatric Movement Disorders - Treatments

Alternative Therapies

Many alternative therapies have been proposed to treat children with a movement disorder. These therapies include chiropractic, homeopathy, hyperbaric oxygen, acupuncture, and other elements of holistic medicine.

There are anecdotal reports of some children receiving benefit from these treatments. However, it is difficult to prove scientifically that these therapies are beneficial for children with movement disorders. When a large population of affected children is studied, on the average, there is no benefit. This does not mean that no child benefits; it means that it is not possible to recommend the treatment for every child. Many of these therapies are harmless, but they are often expensive and time consuming. It is important to be aware of the likelihood of success before engaging in such treatments.