Effectiveness of Manual Therapy in the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

NCT ID: NCT07029425

Last Updated: 2025-06-27

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-10-01

Study Completion Date

2026-06-30

Brief Summary

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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

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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.

Conditions

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Experimental: craniosacral therapy techniques.

Experimental:

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.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Procedure: craniosacral therapy techniques.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

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.

Control: placebo comparator.

Sham Comparator:

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.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo Group

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

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.

Interventions

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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.

Intervention Type 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.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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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.
Minimum Eligible Age

6 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

12 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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JJ JIMENEZ-REJANO

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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JJ JIMENEZ-REJANO

Director

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Grupo de Investigación Área de Fisioterapia CTS 305 - Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain 41009

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

Site Status

Countries

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Spain

Central Contacts

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Paloma Felipe-Ballesteros, PT

Role: CONTACT

+34 672783021

Paloma Felipe-Ballesteros, PT

Role: CONTACT

+34672783021

Facility Contacts

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Paloma Felipe-Ballesteros, PT

Role: primary

+34672783021

References

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Other Identifiers

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USeville-PFB

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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