Have you heard of the Gonstead technique of chiropractic?
It might be a little different than what you’re used to thinking of when you hear about chiropractic. This technique started with a chiropractor named Clarence Gonstead in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. He developed a philosophy and methods that find and fix the root issue of a patient’s pain.
For example, if a patient has numbness in their hands, the problem might not actually begin in their hands; it might stem from the patient’s spine. Dr. Gonstead proposed that a spinal adjustment in the right place would take pressure off the irritated nerve that was sending numbness signals down to the fingers. With a hands-only approach and consideration of all symptoms, Gonstead chiropractic elevated the care patients receive.
To that end, O’Hara Chiropractic would never make a decision concerning someone's health with anything less than ALL of the available information. Every patient deserves to have complete analysis in their clinical picture. This ensures patients receive the highest level of chiropractic care in Clear Lake, Iowa and results in patients’ confidence in the doctor's ability with care.
Allow us to further explain the five components of Gonstead chiropractic.
Gonstead chiropractors combine x-ray visualization, instrumentation, palpation, visualization by observation, and patient symptoms to determine the exact spot that they need to adjust a patient. When all of these methods correlate, they are more likely to give the patient an adjustment specific to the issue. The greater the specificity, the greater the positive change they will notice in the patient's health. Dr. Gonstead noted that three adjustments on the wrong vertebral segment could actually cause a subluxation; therefore, it is extremely important to be as accurate as possible.
VISUALIZATION THROUGH X-RAYS
As a Gonstead chiropractor in Clear Lake, we use full spine x-rays to get a clear picture of the bone structure. Full spine films:
• Use less radiation than taking smaller section x-rays.
• Provide an accurate count of your vertebrae.
• Provide clear imaging of the spine’s curvature for analyzing posture and weight baring.
• Show problems other than the main complaint.
None of these benefits are available when smaller section x-rays are taken. Full spine x-rays make it possible for O’Hara Chiropractic to consider the whole picture in analyzing patients’ symptoms and correcting issues.
PALPATION
A Gonstead chiropractor uses palpation to pinpoint areas of involvement. Static palpation is the "hands on" part of the examination and looks for changes in contour, tone, texture, and temperature on the patient. Motion palpation is when a Gonstead chiropractor nudges the patient slightly to the right or left, or backward or forward to decide where the issue is and how it acts.
INSTRUMENTATION
At O’Hara Chiropractic, we use a small, two-pronged instrument that checks the temperature around the spine to locate areas of inflammation. When the instrument touches a patient’s back, the feeling might remind them of how a medical physician checks their breathing with a stethoscope. No pain, just slight pressure. The readings show if an issue is present, how well the issue has been corrected already, and when the issue has been fixed.
VISUALIZATION BY OBSERVATION
As a Gonstead chiropractor in Clear Lake, we consider all the information we can get from patients by simply looking at them very carefully. Visualization starts from the moment a patient walks in the door. We notice differences in height between the ears, shoulders, and hips as well as posture and gait to confirm or adjust x-ray and palpation findings.
CASE MANAGEMENT (Symptomatology)
Understanding problems with a patient's health helps us determine where a patient needs to be adjusted. Symptoms can help separate the two parts of the autonomic nervous system and aid us in applying a specific adjustment.
In the Gonstead system, we apply all the information from these types of analysis and assemble our findings to determine the most likely cause of a patient's problem. After an issue is found, proper Gonstead technique is applied to effectively correct problem areas. At O’Hara Chiropractic, we focus on intervertebral discs as the underlying cause of issues that result neurological dysfunction. In short, Gonstead doctors are "disc doctors".