The Gonstead System of Analysis

Visualization
The what: Simply looking 
The why:  From the second you walk in we start to analyze, from your gait or an antalgic lean that we can see from far away to hypertonic musculature, dry skin or blemishes when we are up close. There are a lot of 'hints' that are available to the eye that allow us to hone in on where the problem might be.

Instrumentation
The what: The two pronged device that we always seem to run up and down your back.
​The why: Why is it the first thing we do every visit? What it does is it detects heat differentials from one side of the spinal column to the other, and pretty precisely at that (down to a difference of .02 degrees Farenheidt). Why the heat is important is two fold: one being that with inflammation comes heat so when we get hurt there will always be an inflammatory response, like a sprained ankle, bringing some pain/discomfort, some swelling and some heat. The other reason that it's so vital for a Gonstead chiropractor is that we need to find the exact point in the spine where there is nerve dysfunction, so when we run the scope up and down and we see a big heat differential over one segmental level it keys in on a potential nerve dysfunction at that particular segment. 

Static Palpation
​The what: The poking 
The why: Once we have done our instrumentation and deemed that an area needs a closer look we turn to our hands to find the answer, we are looking for edema, tissue changes, tenderness, all these things get us closer to finding the cause of your dysfunction.

Motion Palpation
The what: The moving
The why: When we get to this point in the visit we have a very good idea as to what is going on, this last part will let us know how we are stuck or hypomobile in a certain segmental level, building a 3D image in our head as to where the bone is in space.

Full Spine AP/LAT X-Ray
The what: The picture
The why: This picture is a blueprint of your spine giving us the answer, as to how to move the bone back into its 'neutral' setting to relieve the nerve pressure. Along with that it tells us the whole story of your spine along with its possible past traumas and moving forward what to expect. We take a full spine image because we don't just want a chapter of the book, we want the whole book. 

---

Specific Gonstead Adjusting

Cervical Chair: This is where the bulk of the cervical (neck) adjusting is done. It is done with a gentle, specific move without rotation.  

---

Pelvic Bench: This is where we can adjust the low back whether it be an ilium, a lumbar, or a sacrum. We have a number of 'moves' we can use from here but they are all specific adjustments of one bone at a time, there is no rattling or rolling done here.
​

---

Hylo Table: From here we can adjust the full spine from the occiput to the coccyx. This machine allows for us to gently lower you into a prone lying position. There is a swing-away abdominal piece but no other drops or bells and whistles. 
​

---

Knee Chest Table: From here we can adjust the full spine as well, your chest and knees will be supported with your abdomen allowed to 'sink' into extension allowing for a gentle adjustment.