 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
| |
Activator Methods International Ltd.
2950 N. Seventh Street, Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85014
ofc 602-224-0220
fax 602-224-0230
toll free 1-800-598-0224
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
SUBJECT: Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique: General Articles
TITLE: A review of the literature pertaining to the efficacy, safety, educational requirements, uses and usage of mechanical adjusting devices. Part 1 of 2
REFERENCE: Shane H Taylor, DC Chairman* Nicole D Arnold, BSc, DC Lesley Biggs, PhD** Christopher J Colloca, BS, DC***
Dale R Mierau, DC, FCCS, MSc**** Bruce P Symons, BSc, MSc, DCI***** John J Triano, DC, PhD, FCCS(C) (H)****** JCCA 2004; Vol 48(1); 74-88
ABSTRACT:
Over the past decade, mechanical adjusting devices (MAD’s) were a major source of debate within the Chiropractors' Association of Saskatchewan (CAS). Since Saskatchewan was the only jurisdiction in North America to prohibit the use of MAD’s the CAS established a committee in 2001 to review the literature on MAD. The committee evaluated the literature on the efficacy, safety, and uses of moving stylus instruments within chiropractic practice, and the educational requirements for chiropractic practice. Following the rating criteria for the evaluation of evidence, as outlined in the Clinical Guidelines for Chiropractic Practice in Canada (1994), the committee reviewed 55 articles - all of which pertained to the Activator: Of the 55 articles, 13 were eliminated from the final study. Of the 42 remaining articles, 6 were rated as class 1 evidence; 11 were rated as class 2 evidence and 25 were rated as class 3 evidence. In this article - the first in a series of two -the background and the methods utilized by the MAD committee’s activities are described, as well as the results for the review of the literature on efficacy. Of the 21 articles related to efficacy, five were identified as Class 1 evidence; 4 were identified as Class 2 evidence; and 12 were identified as Class 3. Overall, the committee reached consensus that the MAD procedures using the Activator were as effective as manual (HVIA) procedures in producing clinical benefit and biological change. A minority report was also written, arguing that there was not enough evidence to support or refute the efficacy of MAD’s.
KEY INDEXING TERMS: Activator, mechanical adjusting device.
*Private practice of chiropractic, Regina, SK, Canada.
**Private practice of chiropractic, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
***Department of Women's and Gender Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
****Private practice of chiropractic, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
*****Private practice of chiropractic and Human Performance Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
******Chiropractic Division, Texas Back Institute, Plano, TX and University of Texas, Arlington Biomedical Engineering Program, USA.
Thank you to the Chiropractors' Association of Saskatchewan for funding of this project.
Submit reprint requests to the Chiropractors' Association of Saskatchewan, 3420A Hill Avenue, Regina, SK, Canada S4S OW9
|
|
Print
|
|
|
|
|
