What is a Gonstead Chiropractor?

5 Components of the Gonstead Technique

Clarence S. Gonstead developed the Gonstead Technique in Davenport, Iowa, in 1895. Dr. Gonstead became a practicing chiropractic expert for 55 years. He then founded the world-renowned Gonstead Clinic of Chiropractic in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.

He completed more than four million adjustments using his system of chiropractic adjustments. In doing so, he established a comprehensive method of biomechanical analysis which remains popular to this day. You might feel tempted to ask – so why don’t all chiropractors use this method? It takes a great deal of dedication and time to master the techniques used in this system. Here are the five hallmarks of the Gonstead Technique.

Components of the Gonstead System

The Gonstead System is a much more thorough analysis of your spine. It will provide the most specific and helpful information about any spinal subluxation.

• X-Ray analysis – By looking at an X-ray of your spine, a chiropractor can determine precisely where the problems are. He can also analyze your posture, vertebrae, disks, and possible misalignments. X-rays should be taken while the patient is standing to provide the best information about weight-bearing characteristics.
• Instrumentation – the featured instrument in the Gonstead System is the Nervoscope, which is a device that measures heat along the entire length of the spine. This heat is often an indicator of inflammation and possibly damage affecting the nerves in a specific area. The instrument goes down the entire length of your back, seeking out any points that show unusual heat activity.
• Visualization – this technique provides a convenient vehicle for cross-referencing all other information obtained during evaluation. The chiropractor is an expert at spotting any changes or abnormalities in your posture or movements, which may signal a spinal subluxation.
• Motion Palpation – This technique calls for feeling the spine while the spine is being bent or moved at various angles. It is valuable for determining how difficult it is for every spinal segment to move in multiple directions.
• Static Palpation – similar to motion palpation, this process involves feeling the spine for any abnormalities, except that it occurs when the patient is in a fixed position. A skilled chiropractor can detect swelling, tenderness, tightness, and abnormal textures in the neck, back, and other areas.

During this thorough assessment process, the Gonstead Technique may be utilized for gentle manipulations of the affected areas to achieve healing. The main focus of the Gonstead System is on the dynamics of intervertebral disks since these are known to be the primary causes of spinal subluxations and neurological dysfunction. In many cases, this dynamics of intervertebral disk emphasis turns out to be the underlying cause of a patient’s pain and discomfort. It can therefore be managed very effectively by the Gonstead Technique.

Get started today! Call us at (801) 693-4088 or fill out our online form for a chiropractic care plan just for you. The Gonstead Technique is only one of many that we can use to treat you back to health.