The Gonstead Technique is a system of Chiropractic Treatment used at the Wilshire Chiropractic Institute
to analyze and care for your spine in a gentle, effective and specific way. In dealing with the vertebral subluxation complex (when two or more bones are not aligned correctly in the joint, squeezing or stretching a nerve root), it is important that I thoroughly examine the spine before adjusting it. In order to give the specific adjustment that it requires, I first need to find the specific location of these subluxations.
THE GONSTEAD SYSTEM
Case History
If your car breaks down, you explain to a car mechanic what problems you are having with your car. The mechanic also asks you what type of fuel your putting in your car, what sort of driving style, how often you tune it up, etc. Likewise, I want to know what kind of symptoms or discomfort you have been experiencing and how you are fueling and taking care of your body. Automobile accidents, falls, other trauma or injuries are important information in evaluating your spine and overall health.
X-ray Analysis
To further understand the condition of your spine, it is also important to view the structure of your spine through the use of x-ray examination. I look for signs of pathology (disease and damage), fractures; I evaluate your posture, the joints of your spine, the condition of the discs, subluxations and other conditions of the spine. I also use x-rays to visualize what position the subluxated vertebrae are stuck in so that I can adjust the spine gently, specifically and as effectively as possible.
Instrumentation
Gonstead Chiropractors uses an instrument called a nervoscope or the Myovision thermography unit on your back to find areas of inflammation and imbalance.
Static Palpation
Your spine, when subluxated, will send warning signals to your body. Muscles may become tighter or tender due to tissues damaged from the subluxations. To detect the warning signals, I use static palpation. This simply means that I run my fingers over (or palpate) your spine in a static (or stationary) position. I’m looking for edema, swelling and tender or tight muscle fibers, and bones “sticking out” from their appropriate areas.
Motion Palpation
Like in static palpation, I palpate your spine while moving it at different angles. This enables me to determine how each segment of your spine moves. Lack of movement is one of the signs of a subluxation.
A GONSTEAD ADJUSTMENT IS SPECIFIC
After a complete evaluation using these methods of analysis, I am ready to provide a specific, accurate and precise adjustment. The areas of subluxation have been determined so there is a focus on adjusting only the problem areas.
The Gonstead Chiropractor approaches the spine biomechanically – which means that they relate the structure of the spine to how they will adjust it. Gonstead doctors take great care in making sure you are in a mechanically correct position for the adjustment. Accurate positioning and precision thrusting insure that the correction is as specific and accurate as possible.
To help illustrate how important correct positioning is, think of how a pottery sculptor carefully positions the clay on the pottery wheel before shaping or reshaping the clay. If the clay is not in the center of the pottery wheel it will become off-balanced and lose its shape. Likewise, I am “reshaping” the position in your spine.