What is the Activator adjustment technique?
The Activator is a device used by chiropractors to perform adjustments on the spine and its joints, requiring controlled, rapid, and precise impacts. This alternative to traditional manual chiropractic adjustment is performed using a small mechanical percussion instrument that can be held in the hand. Equipped with this tool, the healthcare professional delivers adjustments with the necessary force and velocity to the treatment sites. This tool reduces the risk of potential nerve irritation problems along the spine while restoring normal muscle tone around the area. The result is a reduction in muscle tension and optimized neurological function, which helps relieve the patient’s pain and discomfort.
Some chiropractors choose to use the Activator as their primary adjustment technique, while others incorporate it as a complementary tool alongside other methods. In the latter case, the Activator may be used specifically to perform chiropractic adjustments only, depending on the patient’s needs and tolerance.
What the Activator adjustment technique can treat
From a global perspective, the Activator can correct all the joints of the human body. Specifically, the Activator method is an effective way to relieve any pain related to neuromusculoskeletal system disorders from the cervical region down to the limbs. Patients suffering from headaches, jaw stiffness, neck pain, back pain, or lower back pain (lumbar pain), as well as pain in the hips, can benefit from this treatment. The Activator corrects minor intervertebral disturbances, also called subluxations, which cause muscle tension and may be the source of these symptoms.
How long before seeing improvement?
Although pain relief can be felt quickly, several treatment sessions using the Activator over a period of 4 to 6 weeks are often necessary to achieve optimal and lasting results.
Who is eligible for an Activator chiropractic adjustment?
The Activator is a treatment tool suitable for any patient suffering from neuromusculoskeletal issues. Children and elderly people are among those who may benefit from this corrective care, especially due to its gentleness and because it does not require joint cavitation manipulation.
To determine a patient’s eligibility for this treatment, the chiropractor always conducts a medical questionnaire. This allows them to learn the patient’s medical history, including past surgeries, trauma history, the context of the current disorder’s onset, and a list of medications taken. Then, a physical examination helps to identify the source of the pain. Medical imaging tests may also be requested to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe a personalized treatment plan.
The course of a treatment session with the Activator
During treatment with the Activator, the chiropractor typically moves from the pelvis to the cervical vertebrae to target each vertebral segment that requires correction. Controlled impulses are applied with the Activator to adjust the joint, thereby restoring its function and mobility. After the session, some patients may experience some joint stiffness, but this effect, similar to muscle soreness, usually subsides within the next day. The number of remaining sessions is then determined by the chiropractor based on how the patient responds to the treatment.
Other treatments available at the chiropractic clinic
The chiropractor treats and relieves pain related to dysfunction of the neuromusculoskeletal systems using natural and non-invasive techniques. Chiropractic adjustment techniques are the usual preferred treatment methods, but they can be complemented by other techniques. Among these are manual soft tissue therapy and high-power laser therapy, a non-invasive treatment that stimulates the body’s healing response. To improve patient comfort and provide optimal conditions for remission, the chiropractor may also prescribe therapeutic exercises specifically adapted to the patient’s condition.