Gonstead Chiropractic is a specialized approach within chiropractic care that emphasizes precise spinal adjustments and a thorough, methodical assessment of spinal health. Developed by Dr. Clarence Gonstead, this technique focuses on analyzing and correcting misalignments in the spine through detailed diagnostic methods, including a thorough case history, physical examination, and specific X-ray analysis. Gonstead practitioners aim to identify the root cause of spinal issues, often using a highly refined adjustment technique to address subluxations with great accuracy. The approach is characterized by its commitment to evidence-based practices and a personalized care plan tailored to each patient’s unique spinal needs. By addressing structural imbalances with precision, Gonstead Chiropractic seeks to improve overall spinal function, alleviate pain, and support long-term health and well-being.
As Gonstead Chiropractors, we are focused on finding and fixing something known as a subluxation. This is a minor misalignment of a vertebrae that leads to pressure on a nerve. Our analysis is geared towards locating the subluxation. The adjustment that follows is only correcting the subluxation that we found, leaving the healthy joints alone.
Dr. Gonstead theorized that the vertebral subluxation caused the disc of the vertebra at that level to lose its parallel relationship with the one above and below. This misalignment causes a shift in the nucleus pulposus, leading to pressure on the annulus fibrosus. This stress on the annulus eventually starts to tear annular fibers. The damage of the fibers starts an inflammatory process that causes the disc to swell and expand, leading to pressure on the nerves in that intervertebral foramen. This nerve pressure can cause neurological dysfunction.