Cervical Chair: Made to adjust     Hylo Table: Made to adjust the      Knee-Chest Table: Made to            Pelvic Bench: Made to adjust  

the cervical and upper dorsal      cervical, dorsal, lumbar spines,      adjust the dorsal and lumbar        the lumber spine and pelvis

spine (neck)                                     as well as the pelvis (entire             spine (upper, middle, and low       (low back)

                                                           spine)                                                 back)

To precisely adjust a subluxated vertebra the Gonstead Doctor uses specific equipment to accomplish this in an efficient pain-free way.

The Gonstead System of chiropractic care was developed by Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead of Mt Horeb, Wisconsin beginning in 1923. He refined his unique system over a 55-year period. The Gonstead System focuses on being as specific as possible with the examination and treatment of the patient, being the most specific and precise chiropractic system in the world. Gonstead practitioners are able to isolate individual inflamed/impinged nerve roots, which is the root cause to many health disorders. By using their hands only, Gonstead chiropractors are able to relieve this impingement, thereby allowing the body to heal itself.

The examination includes taking a detailed history, instrumentation, static palpation, motion palpation, visualization, neurological testing and often times, full spine x-rays taken in the standing, weight bearing position. Necessity of x-rays is determined during the functional examination. This very specific hands-on manipulation is called an adjustment.

Instrumentation: An instrument called a Temposcope is run along the spine from the top of the

person’s neck to the bottom of their spine. The Gonstead Doctor is checking for heat that would

be generated from inflamed nerves, joints, discs and soft tissue surrounding each and every

individual vertebra.

Static palpation: A Gonstead Doctor passively feels each and every joint of the spine and extremities feeling for swelling, pain, muscle spasm and muscle weakness. Any difference from the normal is a sign of injury within the body.

Motion palpation: A Gonstead Doctor uses his hands/fingers to feel all the joints of the spine and extremities to determine if they are moving within their normal limits.  A lack of motion or a joint that moves too much is an abnormal joint and therefore sign of trouble.

Visualization: The Gonstead Doctor will watch you walk, move, bend and twist in certain and specific directions to determine if your body mechanics are within normal limits,

Neurologic Tests: The Gonstead Doctor uses specific tests to determine if the joints and the nerves of your body are working at 100%

                                                                     X-Ray: AP and lateral full spine STANDING x-rays are taken of each and every patient                                                                      (young children and pregnant women are not x-rayed unless unusual circumstances                                                                      occur). This x-ray will determine the health of a person’s spine. The standing or                                                                                “weight bearing” position insures perfect view of the patient’s posture in its natural                                                                        state. It also gives the Doctor a “blueprint” of a person’s spine showing misaligned                                                                          vertebra and pelvic bones and giving the Doctor a look at the discs (the ligamentous                                                                      cushions between the vertebrae.) This x-ray will help the Doctor determine the                                                                                precise angle and direction that each individual subluxation will need to be                                                                                      corrected.

What Is Gonstead?

Call Us:  319/472-5151

BETTERTON CHIROPRACTIC

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