Activator Chiropractic
ACTIVATOR METHOD
The activator method employs the use of a small medical device that aids in upper cervical and spinal adjustments. Activator Chiropractic entails use of a small medical device as a treatment and diagnostic tool to treat various types of upper/lower neck pain, upper/lower back pain, and chronic headaches, including migraines. The activator instrument used is known as the activator adjusting instrument. The Activator Chiropractic method has been around since 1967. In it’s early days, four activator instruments were used separately, but nowadays, typically only one is used.
What Does An Activator Do?
In the Activator Chiropractic world, the term Activator has two meanings:
It can be an instrument that is used to adjust dysfunctional joints, or it can be an assessment procedure that determines the location and method to be used to perform adjustments. The Activator device releases gentle impulse forces directly to the spine and vertebrae to restore mobility to the targeted area. This Activator method is used as an alternative to conventional techniques referred to as high velocity, low amplitude thrust (HVLA). The activator adjusting instrument is one of the most common devices used in activator chiropractic care. It has also been approved by Medicare.
How It Works
The activator method used in spinal adjustment can be described as follows:
It is a hand-held, spring-loaded instrument that provides low force-impulses to targeted areas. The instrument releases rapid pulses that the muscles aren’t able to tense. Thus the muscles cannot resist the treatment. The force applied is usually localized, which means that it does not add any additional torque to the joints.
How It’s Done
The activator method involves a series of steps. Each step allows the doctor to test each vertebra or bone individually for misalignment and dysfunction.
The technique will be performed when you lie face down on the table. The treatment will start at your lower back pain, then slowly moving toward the head while targeting each vertebral segment. In the process, our chiropractor will check for signs and symptoms to spot the trouble areas. The activator adjustment instrument is then applied to the areas near the joint or surrounding tissues. You will feel pressure then a quick thrust, which mimics the feeling of having your reflexes tested when your knee gets tapped. You will have to remain still unlike the traditional HVLA thrust that requires twisting and turning.
What Does It Treat?
Nearly 70% of chiropractors use the activator method to treat patients. It can be used to manage the following:
- Temporomandibular Joint disorder (TMJ)
- Neurological conditions
- Disc problems
- Inflammation of joints
- Back and neck pain
Benefits of the Activator Method
There is an excellent reason as to why the activator instrument has been used for decades. It is a very effective method. Here are some of the benefits: It is gentle on the joints and spine. It is appropriate for patients who need gentler methods like pregnant women, patients who have osteoporosis, and arthritis. These conditions weaken the joints and bones, and the activator method can be used without causing more damage. It can treat various conditions like TMJ disorder and different neurological conditions. It is precise and can target a specific area to restore mobility. It is also useful in reducing inflammation and stiffness to the joints as compared to the traditional methods. It can also be used to treat older patients and children. Since the process is painless, it is appropriate for treating children and elderly patients. The treatment can result in much more stable joints over time. This is because of the speed of the activator adjustment instrument treats the joints without causing your muscles to tense. This will retrain the joints and ligaments and cause them to be stronger and stable.
Activator Chiropractic is a low force technique, or speciality of chiropractic. This method uses an instrument called an Activator to gently move the bones in your spine. The Activator is a spring loaded instrument that allows us to adjust the amount of force that is produced by the instrument. The ability to be this precise is important because the bones in our bodies are different sizes. A larger bone, like the hip, requires more force to move it than a smaller bone, like a neck bone. Patient comfort is also a factor when determining the force output of the instrument.
Benefits of the Activator Method
Activator Chiropractic is highly effective because it uses a high velocity, low amplitude force to move the bones into alignment. This means the force is very fast but not deeply penetrating. Therefore, Activator Chiropractic is gentle enough to adjust kids, osteoporotic patients, patients with arthritis, and pregnant women. It allows for a pain free chiropractic treatment experience.
Using the Activator to align bones means that there are no cracking or popping sounds that are produced during the adjustment. It also does not require much movement from the patient; they either lay face up or down during the entire treatment! Many patients enjoy Activator Chiropractic because they are able to fully relax on the table during the entire treatment. Relaxation during treatment is key because it allows the bones to move into alignment with ease. The more resistance there is from the patient’s muscles, the more difficult it is to move the bones and the more uncomfortable the process is for the patient.
Understandably, many patients have a hard time fully relaxing their muscles during the adjustment. This is another benefit Activator Chiropractic has for our patients. The Activator’s spring is very fast. It can fire the instrument ten times faster than a muscle can contract. What that means is, we can align the bones faster than you can tense up.
In addition to patient comfort, we like the objectivity that Activator Chiropractic adds to our analysis. Activator Chiropractic utilizes many tests to tell the chiropractor what specific bone to adjust and from which direction. For example, while undergoing care in our office, we may ask you to “look up in front of you,” or “tuck your chin down.” While you are doing these actions, we are analyzing your body’s reaction to the motion because each action is correlated to a specific vertebra in the spine. These objective tests are combined with our palpation findings to give you the most accurate adjustment for your treatment.
We use Activator Chiropractic and Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic methods at Anatomy because it ensures that your treatment is the same between visits and between doctors. Reproducibility is key for any treatment to be effective and reliable. Anatomy Chiropractic is the only San Diego Chiropractic clinic to combine these two specialities together for highly effective treatment of many conditions such as: headaches, migraines, dizziness, vertigo, whiplash conditions, concussions, and other chronic pain conditions.
