THE GONSTEAD ADVANTAGE

Our patients travel for miles from every direction for the world renowned Gonstead Technique. This technique represents the ultimate standard in “hands on” spinal adjusting and remains the leader in chiropractic techniques. The science behind this cutting-edge technique results in the most accurate, specific, and effective approach in evaluating and adjusting the spine. Because the spinal column is a dynamic structure affecting the entire body, the Gonstead Technique requires that the entire spine be checked for motion, soft tissue damage and neurological dysfunction by using five criteria. These valuable criteria include visualization, instrumentation, static palpation, motion palpation, and x-ray analysis when indicated to fully analyze the patient before adjusting the articulations of the spine. By taking this comprehensive, proactive approach, we find that when correction is made to the spine, the entire body begins functioning better as a whole. It is common for our patients to feel more energy, sleep better, and notice improved digestion after receiving a series of specific Gonstead adjustments. The Gonstead System is timeless and gives rise to a specific, definite approach, to every segment of the spinal column. There is clinical logic to every decision that is made for each and every patient. This ensures that the principles outlined by Dr. Gonstead will be duplicated and the results achieved.

Gonstead adjustments are incredibly safe. Our patients range from young infants and children to those older in years, as well as pregnant women and professional athletes. Our team is comprised of highly experienced Gonstead chiropractors that have helped many people regain their health and vitality. Unlike other chiropractic methods that mainly focus on immediate pain relief, our office goes one step further to also correct the source of the problem. That’s why most patients under our care not only report relief from pain and discomfort, but as their spinal joints heal and posture begins to align, they notice other conditions clearing up as well.

A BIOMECHANICAL APPROACH

Correct biomechanics of the intervertebral disc is at the core of the Gonstead method of chiropractic. The curves in your spine act as levers, shock absorbers, and resistance to gravity; they also protect and reduce forces acting on the spinal cord and nerve tissues. The curves are dependent on the structure and function of your intervertebral discs. But, gravity, age, poor posture, improper physical activity, injury, and disease can all play a role in the misalignment of your spinal joints and, as a result, the entire structure of your body.

NERVOUS SYSTEM FUNCTION

Your spine houses your nervous system – the most delicate and important organ system – responsible for your day to day bodily functions. From your immune, cardiovascular, and digestive system, to sexual function and mobility – your nerves are responsible for sending vital information and energy from the brain to your organs through your spine. Just as a kink in a garden hose can dramatically reduce the flow of water coming from the tap – a spine out of alignment dramatically reduces vital information going from your brain to vital organs. Thus, your organs are much more susceptible to malfunction and disease. It’s not just coincidence that people most with poor posture tend to lack energy and suffer from fatigue, experience random aches and pains, as well as suffer from headaches, allergies, ear infection, sleeping disorders, gastrointestinal issues, asthma, high blood pressure, etc

THE FIVE CRITERIA:

Visualization:

The Gonstead Chiropractor assesses gross postural abnormalities, gait changes as well as muscle asymmetry to help locate spinal misalignments.

Instrumentation:

Thermography readings are taken on each visit using an instrument that discerns heat differentials along your spine. These heat differentials indicate areas of neurological pressure and interference which are evidence of vertebral subluxations. Thermography also helps monitor the progress of patient care.

Static Palpation:

The Gonstead chiropractor will feel for areas of muscular tightness, asymmetry, swelling (edema), and changes in tissue tone indicating the presence of a spinal misalignment.

Motion Palpation:

Each joint will analyzed to detect any areas of improper joint motion. When a misalignment is present, the joints will “lock up” and the Gonstead Chiropractor works to restore proper motion in these regions.

X-ray Analysis:

When indicated, full spinal x-rays images are taken to analyze the structure of the spine as a whole. From these images, the vector of each adjustment can be determined to make the correction as specific as possible. X-ray images are also analyzed for pathological findings and for the expected outcomes for care.

WHAT IS A SUBLUXATION

There is a specific and scientific reason you are up to your neck in health problems. Most likely it is due to your spine not being in a healthy alignment. Unhealthy spine alignment is a mechanical and neurological problem called a VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATION.

The Gonstead Technique recognizes that proper intervertebral disc function is the foundation to a healthy spine and nervous system. Physical, chemical, and emotional traumas can shift and misalign the spinal bones directly injuring and altering the mechanics of the intervertebral discs. Disc injury causes soft tissue damage, swelling and tissue expansion irritating the delicate nerves nearby. This nerve pressure negatively affects the organs and glands under their control. As a result, the damaged and unstable spinal joints then tighten the surrounding muscles. Spinal misalignments causing nervous system interference are called vertebral subluxations and can be present without symptoms. If left uncorrected, subluxations may lead to spinal decay over time.  Correcting subluxations is the focus of your chiropractic care.

THE HISTORY

In the early 1960’s word began to spread that there was a healer in a small farming community in Wisconsin to whom people of all ages and walks of life from all over the world were flocking. The man was Clarence S. Gonstead. He became a chiropractor in 1923 following a personal experience with chiropractic that helped his body heal from a painful, crippling episode of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. With a background in mechanical engineering, he came to apply the principles of this discipline to the evaluation of the spine. Dr. Gonstead found that a pair of skilled chiropractic hands was the best tool with which to analyze and correct spinal subluxations. Based on his studies, Dr. Gonstead developed the “foundation principle” to explain how a subluxation in one area of the spine created compensatory biomechanical changes and symptoms in another.

Dr. Gonstead’s reputation spread ultimately around the world, as a multitude of patient’s health problems were corrected remarkably fast by his brand of chiropractic care. Hundreds of patients were seeking his care on a daily basis, and with his dedication to helping these patients was unmatched. He was a pioneer in the chiropractic profession, developing equipment and a method of analysis that used more than one criterion to verify the precise location of vertebral subluxation. Dr. Gonstead built the largest chiropractic facility in the world: a 22,000 square foot clinic with a waiting room to seat over 100 patients, 11 adjusting rooms, x-ray facilities and lab, and a lower level to hold Chiropractic seminars. It was to become the most renowned chiropractic facility in the world. Next to his new clinic, Dr. Gonstead added a 78 room, full-service motel to accommodate the clinic’s numerous long-distance patients. Dr. Gonstead and his fellow staff members served 300 to 400 patients on a daily basis.

Dr. Gonstead was named the “Miracle Man” of Chiropractic. With his background in mechanical engineering, he saw the human spine as an intricate engineering wonder and as a result of his studies made numerous first-time discoveries in relation to biomechanics of the human body. With fifty-five years of practice, his work with thousands of spinal cases, and giving over four million chiropractic adjustment explained his world-renowned ingenuity in finding, identifying and correcting subluxations no one else could.

THE PROCESS

Chiropractors detect and correct vertebral subluxations. If your condition, whether pain or a visceral condition like asthma, is caused by a subluxation, a chiropractor can help. Chiropractors correct the cause of the symptom, not merely covering the symptom. While there are over 200 techniques to do this, some have a greater degree of measurable attributes while preserving the philosophy. The Gonstead system is may be the most structurally and biomechanically specific that produces measurable results.

ANATOMY The spinal cord is an extension of the brain. Nerves flow down the spine and out little holes called the intervertebral foramen (IVF). The IVF is formed from the bone above and bone below. These nerves go to each and every muscle, organ, gland, and tissue of the body. Since the nerves pass thru the IVF, it is essential that hole remains as large as possible. Anything that makes that hole smaller will interfere with nerve function. Two things that determine IVF size are proper alignment of the vertebrae and secondly the height of the disc.

ALIGNMENT The bone above is prevented from misalignment forward by a joint of the bone below. However, only ligaments protect the bones from misaligning backwards. Under enough trauma or repeated stress, the ligaments can break down and become stretched. This makes the IVF smaller.

DISC INVOLVEMENT The disc is very strong in a non-degenerated state. However, repeated twisting and bending create micro-tears and weaken it. This soft tissue damage creates swelling and irritates the nearby delicate nerves. Overtime, if the disc is not properly aligned, it will degenerate and make the IVF smaller.

THE SPECIFIC SCIENTIFIC ADJUSTMENT The Gonstead technique respects the disc as the primary cause of subluxation. Since rotation along with flexion is the most damaging movement to the disc, there is no rotation used in any Gonstead adjustment. Adjustments of the neck are performed seated in a chair with no rotational thrust. Low back/pelvic adjusting are performed while lying on a bench while the pelvis and spine are stabilized so no twisting motion may be induced. Because of the attention to detail and care during the adjustment, it is safe and effective.

THE RESULT Symptomatically, our patients often recover quicker. Before and after spinal imaging confirm change and other corrective elements. With time and repetition, disc health will improve thereby increasing overall function of the nervous system. That means the person will be healthier and likely rid themselves of other symptoms they may have been suffering from over the years. Gonstead is logical, safe, and the is known as most effective chiropractic system ever developed.

SUCCESS CASES:

BEFORE AND AFTER

Correct posture is important to a properly functioning spine. The curves in your spine act as levers, shock absorbers, and resistance to gravity; they also protect and reduce forces acting on the spinal cord and nerve tissues. Comparative pre and post x-ray analysis results are an important component of monitoring the progress of focused efforts to realign the structure of a patient’s spine towards a healthy position. Your initial x-rays will let us show you if there are deficiencies in your spinal curvature and the extent of the problem. We will recommend an appropriate corrective program based on the condition of your spine. Since proper structure determines proper function, a comparative x-ray study allows the doctor and patient to “see” objectively when changes toward optimal function have been realized. The before and after x-rays shown below represent real patient cases with real correction of their spine abnormality towards normal. In fact, these are typical results seen after properly adjusting subluxations with the focus on leveling the intervertebral disc using our Gonstead method. Each patient had a unique health problem related to his or her spine abnormality that improved within the corrective program. Because of the numerous different combinations of spinal misalignments that may be present, we serve to correct the spine and nervous system to as near normal as possible. Outcomes may vary with each individual case.

NECK (SIDE VIEW)

LOW BACK MRI (SIDE VIEW)