Chiropractic Care of a 10-Year-Old Boy With Nonorganic Gait Disorder: A Case Report

The purpose of this case report is to describe the multidisciplinary management of a boy with nonorganic gait disorder.

A 10-year-old boy presented to a chiropractic clinic having had a concussion 1 week prior. He presented with lower limb muscle weakness and ataxia while weight bearing. He was referred immediately to the emergency department, from which he was sent to a neurologist at a children's hospital. The neurologist's diagnosis was nonorganic gait disorder.

Treatment consisted of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and a psychiatric assessment. Chiropractic care including manipulative therapy was initiated 6 months after diagnosis. After 1 year, the gait disorder was resolved.

The addition of chiropractic care to conventional treatment may have been supportive in the recovery process for this patient. The condition required 1 year to resolve, with questions remaining as to whether the symptom resolution was a result of treatment or natural history.