Activator Methods®
Activator Methods® is a gentle, precise, and highly effective chiropractic technique that uses a small handheld instrument to deliver a controlled, low-force adjustment. Rather than using
traditional manual adjustments, your doctor carefully identifies areas of misalignment and
corrects them with a quick, targeted impulse.
What Will I Experience?
During your visit, you will lie face down on a comfortable table while your doctor guides you
through a series of specific positions. These movements help determine exactly which joints
need correction.
The adjustment itself is very quick and typically feels like a light tapping sensation. Most
patients find it extremely comfortable and appreciate that there is no twisting, cracking, or
sudden movements.
What Is Actually Happening?
The Activator instrument delivers a rapid impulse to the affected joint. Because the adjustment is so fast and controlled, the body is unable to tighten or guard against the correction. This allows:
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Improved joint alignment
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Reduced muscle tension
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Better mobility and function
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Enhanced nervous system communication
The surrounding muscles often relax naturally, allowing the joint to move more freely and
efficiently.
How Does This Help?
When joints do not move properly, it can create stress, inflammation, and increased wear and tear on the body. Over time, this may lead to discomfort, stiffness, and degeneration.
By restoring proper motion and alignment, Activator adjustments:
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Relieve pain and tension
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Improve movement and flexibility
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Reduce unnecessary strain on joints
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Support long-term joint health
This technique is safe and effective for patients of all ages, including children, seniors, and those who prefer a gentler approach to chiropractic care.
Cox® Flexion–Distraction Technique
The Cox® Flexion–Distraction Technique is a gentle, hands-on chiropractic method designed to relieve spinal pressure and restore natural motion. Using a specialized decompression table, this technique combines controlled flexion (stretching) and distraction (decompression) of the spine to safely and effectively address disc and nerve-related conditions.
Research has shown that flexion–distraction can:
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Reduce intradiscal (disc) pressure
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Decrease stress on spinal nerves
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Improve spinal canal space
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Restore healthy spinal motion
This technique is commonly used to treat low back and neck conditions, including disc
herniation, spinal stenosis, sciatica, degenerative disc issues, and chronic spinal pain.
What Will I Experience?
After a thorough evaluation to identify the involved area, you will lie comfortably on a
specialized table designed for flexion–distraction therapy.
Your doctor will place a hand on the affected region of your spine while gently moving the table in a rhythmic up-and-down motion, and sometimes side-to-side. Most patients describe the experience as a deep, relieving stretch rather than an adjustment. The treatment is slow, controlled, and specifically tailored to your comfort level.
What Is Actually Happening?
As the table moves, it gently separates and mobilizes the spinal segments in the targeted area.
This motion:
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Reduces pressure caused by gravity and compression
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Decreases stress on discs and spinal nerves
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Encourages circulation of oxygen and nutrients
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Assists the body in reducing inflammation
By creating space within the spine, the technique allows irritated tissues to calm and begin
healing.
How Does This Help?
When discs or joints compress nearby nerves, symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling,
weakness, or burning sensations can occur. By reducing pressure on the discs and spinal nerves, flexion–distraction therapy can significantly relieve these symptoms. Restoring healthy spinal motion also supports improved nerve communication throughout the
body, which may positively influence overall function and well-being. This technique is especially beneficial for patients seeking a non-surgical, gentle solution for disc-related and chronic spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis, disc bulge, disc herniation, and degenerative disc disease among others.
Thompson Drop Technique
The Thompson Drop Technique is a precise and comfortable chiropractic method designed to restore balance to the hips and spine. Using a specialized table with segmented drop sections, this technique enhances posture, improves joint motion, and supports overall spinal function.
What Will I Experience?
You will lie face down on a specially designed drop table while your doctor performs a thorough analysis. This often includes checking leg length, evaluating posture, and assessing spinal movement to determine the exact direction of correction needed.
When it’s time for the adjustment, the section of the table beneath the targeted area is gently
raised. As the doctor applies a specific, controlled thrust, the table section drops slightly. This
drop assists the adjustment, allowing for a highly effective correction with minimal force.
Most patients find this technique comfortable and appreciate the gentle, rhythmic movement of the table.
What Is Actually Happening?
The combination of a precise thrust and the assisted drop helps guide the spine and pelvis back into a more balanced, functional position. Because the table absorbs much of the force, less pressure is required from the doctor—making the adjustment both efficient and comfortable.
This technique also helps:
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Restore proper joint motion
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Reduce muscle tension
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Improve spinal alignment
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Break up adhesions and scar tissue that may develop from chronic inflammation
How Does This Help?
Healthy joints depend on regular movement to receive nutrients and maintain proper function. When joints become restricted, inflammation and stiffness can develop, leading to pain and long- term wear.
By restoring motion and reducing restrictions, the Thompson Drop Technique:
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Enhances joint nutrition
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Reduces inflammation
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Relieves pain and stiffness
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Improves posture and mobility
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Supports long-term spinal health
This technique is ideal for patients seeking an effective, comfortable adjustment that promotes balance and lasting results.
ArthroStim® Instrument Adjusting
The ArthroStim® Instrument is an advanced chiropractic tool designed to restore proper
structure and motion by stimulating the body’s mechanoreceptors—the nerves responsible for sensing movement and position. By activating these receptors, the technique helps improve joint function and enhance communication between the spine and nervous system.
This method allows for precise, controlled adjustments without twisting or heavy force, making it comfortable and effective for many patients.
What Will I Experience?
Your doctor will carefully assess areas of restricted joint mobility or regions where the spine has lost its natural alignment or curve. Once identified, the ArthroStim instrument delivers a series of rapid, gentle pulses to the targeted area. You will hear a clicking sound and feel light, quick impulses. Most patients describe the sensation as mild and very tolerable.
What Is Actually Happening?
The instrument delivers consistent, high-speed impulses that:
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Increase joint mobility
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Stimulate proprioceptive (position-sensing) nerves
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Restore more normal structural alignment
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Reduce muscle guarding around restricted joints
Because the impulses are so quick, the surrounding muscles are less likely to resist the
correction. This allows the joint to move more freely and through a fuller range of motion.
How Does This Help?
Improved joint motion makes everyday activities easier—turning your head, bending, lifting, and moving comfortably throughout the day.
Movement is one of the body’s most powerful healing stimuli.
When joints move properly:
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Circulation improves
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Inflammation decreases
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Muscle tension reduces
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Pain signals are naturally diminished
By restoring healthy motion, ArthroStim adjustments help your body function more efficiently and comfortably, supporting both short-term relief and long-term spinal health.