When someone hears the word “chiropractor”, he or she would
immediately envision a doctor who works on a patient's bare back with nothing
but his own hands. While this is indeed a semi-accurate description of what
they do, modern chiropractors don't shy away from using advanced technology to
further their practice. In fact, using modern equipment in tandem with
chiropractic techniques is an indicator that a chiropractor is indeed reliable
and competent.
One equipment that chiropractors often use is called a
chiropractic activator, a small device that is generally used as a substitute
to making spinal adjustments by hand. It resembles a really large medical
syringe, only that the needle is replaced by a large, covered, blunt end
similar to one that is found in a pogo stick. This device makes any
chiropractic session more comfortable since it reduces the need for the patient
to adjust his or her position during the treatment; the chiropractor can simply
use the activator on the back, jaw, wrist, and ankles while the patient lies
flat on his or her belly.
Some chiropractors also use computed thermography to treat their
patients. Similar to how thermometers work, computed thermography scans the
patient's body for any patches of heat, the idea being that heat is one
indicator of a “problem area” that needs attention. This technology is also a
useful way of detecting any health conditions that the patient is unaware of.