Instrument adjusting
Activator treatment
A hand-held instrument delivers a light, quick impulse, a gentle option for infants, seniors and anyone who dislikes the twist.
For the infant, the grandparent, and anyone who dislikes the twist
Not everyone wants a hands-on thrust, and not everyone should have one. Tyler Chiropractic sees patients from infants to seniors, and for the smallest and the most fragile of them, a light-force method can make more sense than a manual push. The Activator is a hand-held instrument the doctor uses in place of the thrust, so there is no twisting, no stretch of the neck, and very little force going into the body.
It also suits the adult who tensed up the last time someone tried to crack their back, or the person whose joints are sensitive after an injury. Tense muscles resist a manual adjustment, and a small, quick tap tends to meet less of that resistance. The practice offers it alongside manual adjustments, so you can say which style you would rather start with during your free consultation at 945 S. Baxter Ave in Tyler.
Treatment room with a black Anatomotor table and framed muscular and skeletal system charts
A small instrument, a fast and light impulse
The Activator is a small, hand-held tool with a rubber tip. The doctor first finds the joint that is not moving well, using the same history, exam and palpation that guide any adjustment, then places the tip on a specific spot and releases a quick, light impulse. The speed is the point: the pulse arrives and ends before the surrounding muscles have time to brace against it.
Because the force is small and can be aimed precisely, the doctor can work one segment at a time and check the response between taps. You are positioned in whatever way suits the problem and the patient. Many people describe the sensation as barely noticeable. Others want to feel a more decisive adjustment, and that is a fair preference to bring up with Dr. James Smith or Dr. Justin Smith at your visit.
Instrument and hands in the same visit
Activator treatment does not have to replace anything. In one visit the doctor might use the instrument on a sensitive area of the neck and then use a manual adjustment on the mid back, where you hold tension and tolerate it well. The decision is made joint by joint, and it can change from one appointment to the next as your body settles. That flexibility is one reason a family practice that treats several generations keeps both methods available.
The pairing often extends past the adjusting table too. Depending on your exam, the recommended course of care may include therapeutic ultrasound or trigger point therapy alongside whichever adjusting style you prefer. If you want to compare the two methods before you book, read about our chiropractic adjustments, then call (903) 595-2664 in Tyler and ask for the free consultation.
Family-owned in Tyler since 1977.