Gonstead Chiropractors are licensed Doctors of Chiropractic who perform the Gonstead Chiropractic technique.  The technique was started by the late Dr. Clarence Gonstead.  Dr. Gonstead built the Gonstead Clinic of Chiropractic in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, and is responsible for many discoveries and Chiropractic innovations.  Some of those innovations include the Gonstead knee-chest table and cervical chair, nervo-scope style heat detection instrument, as well as numerous clinical discoveries such as the Gonstead disc theory.  Gonstead Chiropractors use a unique system of adjusting not only vertebral subluxations, but also any extremity joints that put pressure on delicate nerves.

Through Dr. Gonstead’s fifty-five years of practice and over four million adjustments, he developed the most biomechanical analysis of the spine.  Five criteria are used in determining where a Chiropractic subluxation, or nerve pressure, is located.

Instrumentation – The Gonstead System utilizes the Nervoscope.  Indications of pressure on nerves as well as the possibility of inflammation show up on the Nervoscope via increased spinal temperature.

Static Palpation – Involves feeling (or palpating) the spine. The Gonstead practictioner will palpate in the neck and back regions to identify tightness.  In addition, areas of increased sensitivity and swelling are also found.

Motion Palpation – Consists of palpating the spine while simultaneously navigating the spinal segments through the different planes of motion.  Motion palpation allows the Chiropractor to establish the effects of the edema/swelling on the joint movement.

Visualization – Visualization allows the Chiropractor to identify whether movement and posture are changing.  If identified, the change can signify that swelling or other problems are occurring.

X-Ray Analysis – Through the use of Gonstead 14×36 x-rays, the whole spine can be seen.  Viewing every segment of the spine in one x-ray is very helpful and important in determining vertebral count, posture, joint and disc health, vertebral misalignments and ruling out any pathologies.

After a complete analysis, Gonstead Chiropractors adjust the spine in areas of interest.  The Gonstead adjustment focuses on correcting only the specific locations in the spine that necessitate attention.  Gonstead Chiropractors aim to enable the body to stay at optimal health and function.  Gonstead Chiropractors identify and correct subluxation in order to remove interference to nervous system function.

“Find the subluxation, accept it where you find it, correct it and leave it alone.”

– C.S. Gonstead