Secondary Methods: The Activator Method

Chiropractic care is specifically defined as a professional healthcare career that includes therapy that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems and the effects of such disorders on an individual’s overall health. This method treats individuals with back pain by adjusting body structures into better placement to alleviate stress on the nerves. Chiropractors utilize several methods to treat patients, including diversified, activator, and directional non-force techniques, each of which holds prestige and wide use in the chiropractic care field.

The most commonly used method of chiropractic care is the diversified technique, which involves spinal manipulation to achieve alignment. It’s widely taught in schools of chiropractic medicine, and is typically aimed to target particular synovial joints to result in an easing of pain. Distinguished by its high velocity, low amplitude manual thrust, the diversified technique intends to restore proper movement of the vertebrae to ameliorate and rehabilitate joint dysfunction. This sort of method results in the cavitation of joints. Cavitation occurs within the synovial fluid of the joint, and when adjustment is executed the applied force separates the articular surfaces of the aforementioned joint. This temporarily deforms the joint capsule causing a reduction of pressure within the cavity. This environment allows for gas to be dissolved in the synovial fluid creating a bubble, which then collapses in on itself to create the common “cracking” sound. This sound is familiarized with most people as the sound that results when one cracks their knuckles, or the popping sound one hears when receiving a chiropractic adjustment.

This method is beneficial because, as implied by the name of the technique, it can be utilized on several joints of the body and is known to be the most effective and efficient technique. It, too, can be used for several sorts of individuals suffering from spinal and joint pain, including those who have been in motor vehicle accidents or those who are suffering from athletic injuries. It’s a perfectly natural and safe technique, and can be an alternative to costly, invasive surgery. There has been much firsthand experience that concludes that the diversified technique has been proven to be effective in many cases, and has successfully assuaged pain and discomfort for patients.

The activator technique is a secondary method that can be applied to some patients, and can be coincided with other methods, such as the diversified technique. Other times, it is used as an alternative to manual manipulation. It, like the diversified technique, is characterized by its high velocity but low amplitude thrust. The Activator Method Chiropractic Technique (AMCT) begins with a leg-length reliability test, in which the chiropractor has a patient lie in a flat position, usually facing down, on a chiropractic table. Then, the chiropractor will measure out to see if one leg might be shorter than the other, and he or she may have the patient continue on with various muscle tests such as raising their arms while they are lying down to see if one of the legs shortens further.

In this case, the patient likely has a displacement of a vertebra that attaches to various muscles, causing the shortening. The apparatus used for this method, called the mechanical force manual assisted (MFMA) device, is a handheld instrument that is spring loaded and delivers a slight impulse to the spine. A chiropractor would click this instrument along the affected area and downwards through pressure points in the back to relax muscles.

Since it is virtually painless, the AMCT is primarily used because it is a much softer method than other chiropractic treatments. Back and neck pain, as well as headaches and sinus pressure all can be relieved by this technique. It restores mobility to the specific vertebra or joint area. It is theorized that the speed of the utilization of the device is so quick that there is little muscle resistance so the individual does not tense, which is what usually backfires the treatments of other methods. The contained, applied force does not add any unnecessary, additional pull to other muscles and joints. This is especially beneficial in comparison to other methods which have the potential to cause unintended consequences such as muscle strains or worsened soreness in surrounding areas.

The Directional Non- Force Technique uses gentle pressure to fix misalignments found during a leg length analysis. It is supposedly the original low force method and has been inspiration for other techniques commonly used today. The intention of this technique, like other chiropractic methods, is to correct misalignments of tissue which result in nerve interference, but instead it allows the body to naturally heal itself through soft coaxing of the muscles. To begin this kind of therapy, a leg length analysis is used to understand the extensiveness of potential nerve damage, and if there is pull up of the reactive leg then there is apparent nerve interference. This indication is followed by a light thumb impulse delivered by the chiropractor, encouraging the muscle into the appropriate directional placement. Naturally, the affected bones, joints, or connected ligaments would work themselves into corrective place.

Those who are uncomfortable with the idea of their bones or joints “cracking” to achieve correction by chiropractic treatment are likely to choose this method. This treatment is also beneficial because it can be utilized on patients of all ages, including infants and children, as well as the elderly. Many chiropractors and chiropractic schoolings will stand by this method as being highly effective and gentle, as well as being surprisingly timely.

Although there tends to be some scrutiny involving the chiropractic practice, many of its methods have been shown to hold true to its effectiveness. Patients and skilled practitioners alike vouch that chiropractic methods are successful and are much less costly next to other methods, thus, making it ideal for those who are seeking medical help regarding their spinal pains and medical issues.