Manual Vs. Activator Adjustments | Which Chiropractic Method Is Better?
Posted on: 29 June 2022
Patients dealing with generalized back pain, headaches, sciatica, bulging discs, etc. may want to visit a chiropractor for help since they may be able to find relief through non-invasive therapies. Some chiropractors may perform spinal adjustments manually to correct issues, while others may use tools called activators to make adjustments.
You may wonder if one technique is better than another, but both adjustment methods have their advantages; their use will depend on your health needs, preferences, and chiropractor's recommendations. Read on to learn more about manual and activator adjustments.
Manual Adjustment
During manual adjustments, your chiropractor will use their hands to apply a controlled thrust to a subluxated (misaligned) joint. Manual manipulation is often preferred for first-time appointments because the hands act as a great diagnostic tool, along with x-rays/MRIs, trigger-point analyses, etc. With manual manipulation, your doctor can palpate your spine to check for areas of tenderness, swelling, or temperature variation.
Manual adjustments tend to be better at reducing pain in the first few weeks of treatment; but after months of treatment, both manual and activator adjustments are comparable.
Manual adjustments are beneficial for a variety of musculoskeletal issues, not just back issues. For example, if you are struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome, your chiropractor can manually adjust your wrist to reduce any pressure placed on the median nerve.
One downside of manual manipulation is that sessions do tend to take more time than ones with instrument-assisted adjustments. Sometimes your chiropractor may need to have you twist or turn your body to get it at the right angle for manual adjustments, but if you are in a lot of pain, that can be difficult, so an activator method may be better for those situations.
Activator Adjustment
Activator instruments are spring-loaded tools that provide a quick pulse to specific areas of the body. The goal of activator adjustments is the same as manual adjustments: to align the spine and other joints to improve bodily functionality.
If a patient is in a lot of pain and is overly sensitive to touch, then the activator tool can be a good route since it tends to have better accuracy than manual manipulation. As previously mentioned, manual adjustments could require patients to twist and stretch before adjustments, so activator devices can be helpful for people with a limited range of motion.
Although more studies need to be conducted, one study found that the benefits of activator adjustments provided similar benefits to manual adjustments to patients with TMJ dysfunction, trigger point issues, and acute/chronic spinal pain.
As you can see, there are pros and cons to both chiropractic adjustment methods, so reach out to your chiropractor to see which route is right for you.
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