Activator vs Diversified: Two Ways a Chiropractor Adjusts

If you have ever searched for a chiropractor, you may have seen the words Activator and Diversified on a clinic's website and wondered what they mean. They are the names of two well-known ways to deliver a chiropractic adjustment. Earnst Chiropractic Clinic in High Point offers both, along with full spine and extremity adjusting, so it is worth understanding the difference before your visit.

Neither one is better in every situation. They are different tools, and a good chiropractor chooses based on the person on the table. This article covers the general ideas. Your own doctor is the right person to tell you what fits you.

What an adjustment is

A chiropractic adjustment is a specific, controlled force applied to a joint, most often in the spine. The goal is to improve how that joint moves. Joints that are stiff or restricted can sit at the center of everyday aches in the neck, the mid back and the low back, and an adjustment is one way a chiropractor works on that motion.

The word covers a lot of ground. How the force is delivered, how much of it, and in which direction all vary. That variety is why chiropractic technique has names at all.

Diversified technique

Diversified is the technique most people picture when they think of a chiropractor. The doctor uses his or her hands to apply a quick, shallow thrust to a specific joint, usually while you lie on a padded table in a position that lets the joint move freely. It is one of the most widely taught hands-on methods.

You may hear a pop or crack during a Diversified adjustment. That sound is commonly explained as gas shifting within the fluid of the joint, similar to cracking a knuckle. It is not a measure of how well the adjustment went, and an adjustment without a sound can be just as effective.

Because it is done by hand, Diversified gives the doctor a direct feel for the joint being worked on. Many people like the sense of immediate release. Others prefer something gentler, which is where the second technique comes in.

Activator technique

Activator uses a small hand-held instrument. The doctor places the tip against a chosen spot and the instrument delivers a light, very fast tap. There is no twisting and typically no pop, and the table position is often more relaxed. Many people describe it as a much lighter sensation.

The method generally relies on a set of quick checks of how your body moves and lines up, which help the doctor decide where to use the instrument. The tap itself is small and controlled, so it is often considered for people who want a lighter touch, such as older adults, people who are tense or anxious, or patients who are sore.

Why one office might use both

People are not the same. A strong, flexible adult who has been lifting boxes all week and a child, a grandparent, or someone recovering from a flare-up may call for very different approaches. Having both techniques means the doctor can match the method to the patient instead of the patient to the method.

It also means your treatment can change over time. You might start with a gentler method when you are sore and move to something different as you feel better. And you always have a say. If a method does not feel right to you, tell the doctor, and ask what the alternatives are.

The clinic also lists extremity adjusting, which means joints outside the spine, such as the shoulders, hips, knees or ankles. Many people are surprised that a chiropractor works on these, but a stiff shoulder or a sore ankle can be part of the same overall picture as a stiff back, especially in people who are active.

The clinic describes its specialties as relief of low back pain due to disc problems using spinal decompression, and relief of headaches and neck pain using spinal adjustments and posture restoration. Ask Dr. Tyler Earnst how any of those might apply to you at your visit. We can only speak in general terms here, and no article can tell you what is going on in your own body.

What to tell the doctor

To help your chiropractor choose well, share what you are comfortable with. If loud popping makes you tense, say so. If you have had a certain kind of adjustment before and liked it, or did not, say that too. Tell him about any surgeries, bone or joint conditions, and medicines you take.

A good adjustment should not feel like something is being done to you without your say. Patients at the clinic have described the doctor as gentle and as someone who explains what he is doing. Asking questions is part of the process, not an interruption of it.

If you are curious which technique might suit you, the simplest step is to ask in person. Call (336) 434-4600 or visit the office at 231 Baker Road in High Point. New patients can book a consultation, spinal exam and first treatment for $75, and your questions about technique are welcome at that visit.