The Activator Method at 360 Chiropractic

February 24, 2016

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At 360 Chiropractic, we encourage natural methods of treatment as a safe and effective alternative to surgery and prescription medications. That is why we chose the Activator Method along with acupuncture, physical therapy and massage therapy for our choice of treatment.

The Activator Method is one of the most widely researched chiropractic techniques. It has been researched for over 20 years and has more than 100 published papers on the technique. You can learn more about some of the clinical trials that were conducted here.

Screenshot (221)How it Works

The activator distributes low force adjustments directly to the body. As it moves, it helps realign the joints, relax tight muscles, and reduce pain and nerve irritation. Three factors are involved in the success of the Activator Method:

  1.    Low Force: The Activator is considered “low force” because it does not require the patient’s body or spine to be “twisted”- as done in a manual manipulation – thus offering a gentle and safe form of treatment.
  1.    Speed: Our muscles naturally react to outside forces by tensing up – it’s a reflex that occurs without our control. The Activator produces an impulse that is quicker than the body’s reflexes, which means your body can be treated before your natural responses kick in, which improves the effectiveness of the treatment.
  1.    A Variety of Patients: Every patient is unique in age and size. The activator allows an accurate and controlled course of treatment that is effective no matter your individuality. This allows us to treat all patients with proficiency.

What to Expect

If it is your first visit, the chiropractor will perform an exam. In this test, the chiropractor will assess your spinal joint dysfunction, analyze postural distortions, review x-rays and/or MRI results (if applicable or necessary), pinpoint problems with body mechanics, and test neurological reflexes. After the initial assessment is completed, the chiropractor can determine the best course of treatment.

After the initial patient exam, the chiropractor will conduct a functional leg length test to determine whether or not your have lumbopelvic, insufficient stability, which involves pelvic rotation and the appearance of a “short leg”. This evaluation is based on the theory that differences in leg length may indicate where vertebral misalignments are present, and a shorter leg indicates that the body may be compensating.

Once the functional leg length test is complete, the chiropractor will perform a series of simple muscle tests to activate the muscles that are attached to a specific vertebra. These combined tests allow the chiropractor to determine exactly where the activator needs to be implemented.

 

360 Chiropractic is the only chiropractic clinic in the area that is fully certified and trained to use the Activator Method. Each patient is unique and may respond differently to the prescribed form of treatment, and at 360 Chiropractic will do our very best to adjust accordingly.

For more information about 360 Chiropractic, visit our website.