Chiropractir activator - some info needed

[Juustin]

I just have a quick question that maybe someone can shed some light on. I know someone who often sees a chiropractor for various aches and pains. She said she doesn't allow them to do manual adjustments, but that they use a "clicker" which has the same effect. I did some looking and saw she's talking about an activator.

She recently had some pain in her arm, plus her back (near her shoulder). She went back to the chiro for treatment, and the next day felt worse. Someone said whatever the chiropractor did may have made something worse.

So basically my question is, how does this activator device supposedly work? She didn't actually know much about it, just normally saying after she goes, she feels better (I should mention that "after" means anything from later that day to "sometimes it takes a few days after I go for it to work.."). I suspect much of it is just aches and pains that come and go, but as long as there is a chiro visit between the coming and the going, they get the credit for it going away. If the activator isn't really doing anything, at least that would mean it's less likely that it made anything worse.

 

[Psiload]

It's a magic wand.

Abracadabra, hocus pocus, and so forth.

 

[JWideman]

How does it "work"? It goes "click".

 

[JJM]

Look in http://www.ebm-first.com/ www.skepdic.com www.quackwatch.org and its chirobase subsidiary.

 

[Blue Wode]

Good article here:

Questionable Claims Made for Activator Methods (AM)
http://www.chirobase.org/06DD/activator.html

 

[blutoski]

I just have a quick question that maybe someone can shed some light on. I know someone who often sees a chiropractor for various aches and pains. She said she doesn't allow them to do manual adjustments, but that they use a "clicker" which has the same effect. I did some looking and saw she's talking about an activator.

She recently had some pain in her arm, plus her back (near her shoulder). She went back to the chiro for treatment, and the next day felt worse. Someone said whatever the chiropractor did may have made something worse.

So basically my question is, how does this activator device supposedly work? She didn't actually know much about it, just normally saying after she goes, she feels better (I should mention that "after" means anything from later that day to "sometimes it takes a few days after I go for it to work.."). I suspect much of it is just aches and pains that come and go, but as long as there is a chiro visit between the coming and the going, they get the credit for it going away. If the activator isn't really doing anything, at least that would mean it's less likely that it made anything worse.

The Activator is a spring-loaded device designed to create a high-velocity-low-amplitude push of prespecified force and distance.

In principle, it's more accurate and safer than manual adjustments, and is less effort for the chriopractor.

It is totally possible for this to aggravate an existing problem like an inflammed or damaged joint.