Gonstead System

At Kaplan Chiropractic, we utilize the Five-Component Gonstead System of Analysis to pinpoint the exact location and nature of your spinal misalignment (subluxation). This specific, step-by-step process ensures we are always treating the root cause of your issue, not just the symptoms.

Part 1: The 5 Steps of Gonstead Analysis

The Gonstead system is rooted in a rigorous, five-part assessment to create a precise diagnosis before any adjustment is made.

1. Visualization

• What We Do: Simply looking at your posture and movement and spine.
• Why It’s Specific: We observe for subtle clues like an uneven gait, an antalgic lean (leaning away from pain), or hypertonic (tight) musculature. These visual hints provide crucial initial data, guiding us toward the area of spinal disturbance.

2. Instrumentation (Nervoscope)

• What We Do: Running a highly sensitive, two-pronged device (the Nervoscope) along your spine.
• Why It’s Specific: This tool detects precise heat differentials (as small as a 0.2 degree Fahrenheit difference) that signal inflammation and nerve pressure. When the Nervoscope shows a ‘break’ (a temperature shift) over a segment, it precisely keys us in on the vertebral level of nerve dysfunction. This is done on every visit to confirm the subluxation’s presence.

3. Static Palpation 

• What We Do: Using our hands to feel the spine while you are still.
• Why It’s Specific: We meticulously check for edema (swelling), abnormal tissue changes, and localized tenderness. These observations confirm the localized inflammatory response and further narrow down the exact location of the subluxation.

4. Motion Palpation 

• What We Do: Gently moving individual spinal segments.
• Why It’s Specific: This step determines precisely how the vertebra is stuck (hypomobile) and in what direction it has misaligned. This is essential for building the 3D blueprint in our mind necessary for a specific, directional correction.

5. Full Spine AP/LAT X-Ray 

• What We Do: Weight-bearing images of your entire spine.
• Why It’s Specific: The X-ray is the blueprint of your unique spinal structure. We take a full spine image because we need the “whole book,” not just a chapter. It provides critical measurements, confirms the precise angle of correction, and reveals structural history—all vital for a safe and specific adjustment plan.

Part 2: Specific Gonstead Adjusting Equipment

The analysis dictates the adjustment. Gonstead Technique relies on specialized tables to optimally position you and deliver a highly specific, low-force thrust to one bone at a time, without rotation or twisting.

• Cervical Chair: Used for the majority of cervical (neck) adjusting. This positioning ensures a gentle, precise move that is non-rotational to correct the vertebral misalignment safely and effectively.
• Pelvic Bench: Used for adjusting the ilium, lumbar vertebrae, and sacrum. We utilize various specific, hands-only contacts designed to move one bone at a time. There is no rattling or rolling—just a focused, directional correction.
• Hylo Table: Used for full spine prone adjustments. This hydraulic table’s solid base and height adjustment ensure the doctor can deliver a focused, specific hand thrust without reliance on drops or other mechanical aids.
• Knee Chest Table: Used for full spine adjustments, excellent for low back and pelvis. The unique position allows your abdomen to relax, which helps open the disc spaces and allows for a gentle, yet extremely specific posterior-to-anterior (P-A) adjustment.