5 Components of the Gonstead technique

In the Gonstead System are Full Spine, both A-P and Lateral views. The film size is 14" x 36" with the practice member placed to include ishia to occiput. Full Spine films use less radiation than sectionals, provide an accurate vertebral count, provide full spinal contour representation for posture analysis with axial weight-bearing, and show problems other than the chief complaint-all of which are not attainable through the use of sectional films. Full spine X-Rays are essential to Gonstead Chiropractic. They allow us to regard the practice member totally in analysis and corrective procedures.

Both Static and Motion Palpation are utilized in Gonstead Chiropractic to precisely pinpoint areas of involvement. Static Palpation is the "hands on" part of the examination. This will indicate changes in contour, tone, texture, and temperature on the practice member. Motion Palpation is used to determine a subluxation and its listing.

Classically a dual probe instrument (Nervoscope or Delta-T) is used to get a bilateral temperature comparison of the spine to locate areas of inflammation. The readings obtained through instrumentation will show whether or not subluxations are present if they are being corrected, and when a correction has been attained.

We take into account all the information we can get from the practice member by simply looking at them very carefully. In the Gonstead System Visualization starts from the moment the practice member walks in the door. Differences in height between the ears, shoulders, and hips as well as posture and gait are useful to confirm your X-Ray and Palpation findings.

Although never used in a "cookbook" fashion, understanding problems with a practice members health help us determine the area that a practice member needs to be adjusted. Symptoms can help separate the two parts of the Autonomic Nervous System (Sympathetic and Parasympathetic) and aid us in applying a specific adjustment

In the Gonstead System, we apply all the information from these modes of analysis and correlate our findings to determine the most likely cause of the practice members problem. After Subluxations are found, the use of the proper Gonstead technique is applied to effectively correct problem areas.

The Gonstead System focuses on the dynamics of intervertebral disc as the underlying cause of subluxations and resulting neurological dysfunction. It could then be said that Gonstead doctors are "disc doctors".