Before I started chiropractic school, I, like most people, assumed that all chiropractors were essentially the same. Each chiropractor I had been to growing up followed the same routine: they’d adjust one side, then the other, then my mid-back, and lastly, my neck.

It wasn’t until I started chiropractic school at Logan College of Chiropractic that I learned there are over 200 different chiropractic techniques–each with different thought processes, analysis tools, and adjusting methods! Some use their hands to manually adjust while others use instruments, some only address pain and others address the nervous system; chiropractic is truly such a diverse field. (Which is why we always say to people who have had a bad experience with a chiropractor to not write all chiropractors off, but to try a different one! Just like if you get a bad haircut, you don’t stop getting your hair done–you find a new hairdresser.) Most chiropractors, I learned, wind up combining a bunch of methods to form their own technique.

Through studying these different techniques, I was determined to find the best of the best to figure out what resonated with me–I attended every seminar I could, soaking up all the knowledge to gain “as many tools in my toolbelt” as my professors advised. 

But with each technique I cycled through, I felt like something was missing: I felt like I was not properly trained in how to find a subluxation before correcting it–aka the whole point of chiropractic. That all changed the moment two people walked into my life that would change it forever. 

The first was Dr. Cranwell, who had studied under Dr. Gonstead for many years and was the Gonstead teacher at Logan Chiropractic College. He pitched my class on taking the Gonstead technique as an elective and I was sold immediately. 

Just a few weeks later, I had walked into another seminar called Dynamic Essentials. At the student night of my first time at the seminar, I met (future) Dr. Bridget. The moment I heard her speak for the first time, I knew she was going to be my wife. But that’s another story for another day. 

Dr. Bridget’s parents had both been Gonstead chiropractors, so when she went to chiropractic school she thought the Gonstead technique was synonymous with chiropractic. But she quickly learned, as I did, that there are so many different things that chiropractors can do. She tried many of the other techniques as well but nothing resonated in her soul like the Gonstead technique. When (future) Dr. Bridget and I had been talking about getting married, one of her “prenuptial” agreements was that I do the Gonstead technique if I was going to work in her office. So thanks to Dr. Cranwell, I already had a foot in the door. 

The Gonstead technique was so appealing to me because it wasn’t just another set of moves on how to move a vertebrae from point A to point B. It was an analysis system that allowed me to locate the exact vertebrae that was subluxated, gave me many ways of correcting the subluxation, and then gave me a way to post-check to ensure that I had done my job and the person’s nervous system was clear. The only downside: while we believe it the most effective technique, it’s also one of the hardest to master, which is another reason it’s less popular among chiropractors. Being a Gonstead chiropractor requires a lifelong willingness to keep striving to get better and refine the craft. But my mission is to help people truly heal their bodies and change their lives, not just take the easy road–so I started doing just that.

History of the Gonstead Technique

Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead, revolutionized the chiropractic profession with his groundbreaking approach to spinal care. His method was rooted in a meticulous scientific approach, emphasizing the importance of spinal biomechanics and the nervous system. His keen understanding of the body led to the development of the Gonstead Technique—a precise system for analyzing and adjusting the spine. 

The Gonstead technique incorporated in-depth assessments, including X-rays, instrumentation (the Nervoscope), motion and static palpation, as well as visualization, to identify subluxations with unparalleled accuracy.

In his lifetime, Dr. Gonstead built one of the largest chiropractic clinics in the world in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, drawing patients and chiropractors from across the globe. In the 1960’s Dr. Gonstead added a hotel and airstrip to his practice because people were flying from across the globe to receive his care. His dedication to patient outcomes and teaching set a standard for clinical excellence that continues to inspire chiropractors today.

Dr. Gonstead has a famous chiropractic quote in regards to the subluxation “Find it, accept it where you find it, fix it, and leave it alone.” This simple, yet profound phrase has impacted thousands of chiropractors and probably millions of patients helping them get the care that they need so their body’s can function optimally. This is the same thinking we use in our office today. 

Finding the subluxation

The Gonstead approach utilizes six different criteria to determine where a subluxation exists:

1. Case History – How did we get to where we are today? Your stressors and symptoms give us some insight into what is happening in your body. But chiropractors believe in “treating” the person, not the condition. So the scope of our history will expand beyond just your symptoms to allow us to get you the help that you need.

2. Visualization – Your posture is the external representation of what your body is doing internally. By assessing your posture, skin changes, and movement we can glean insight into what we might need to correct in your body.

3. Instrumentation – The instrumentation we utilize gives us insight into what is happening inside of your body. We measure the physiology of your body so we can objectively see what is happening inside of your body so we can know where the stress and irritation is located. 

4. Static Palpation – As we run our hands down your back we feel for changes in the skin tone, muscle tone, swelling, and sensitivities. This gives us a more exact location for where we need to correct your spine to help your nervous system function better. 

5. Motion Palpation – This is our way of determining whether the joint that we’re assessing is moving too little, too much or just enough compared to the one below it. 

6. X-ray* – A full spine x-ray helps us not only identify how to properly adjust a specific vertebrae, but also what effect that one adjustment can have on the rest of the spine. It also gives us an idea how long a problem has been there to help us set the expectation for recovery. 

*Since our office cares for many pregnant women and kids we do not take X-rays in all cases. In those cases our other analysis tools are imperative for us to be able to find where the subluxation is. 

These six analysis tools allow us to identify the exact location of the subluxation so we can then determine how to fix it. 

Fix it

Once we find the location of the subluxation, we then have to determine when, where, and how to correct it. Certain subluxations are more easily corrected at night rather than in the morning. Other subluxations are better corrected on one table instead of another. So we have many tools at our disposal in order to be able to offer the best care possible. 

In our office you will find four pieces of equipment that will help us deliver the most specific adjustment as gently as possible. The four are the: 

1. Cervical chair

2. Pelvic bench

3. Knee chest, and 

4. Hilo

Cervical Chair

The cervical chair is where we start each visit to perform our analysis. It is also where we perform most of our neck adjustments. The nerves that exit from here control vital functions in the head and neck — including the muscles of the face, eyes, and throat, as well as the function of the sinuses, ears, and even parts of the heart and lungs.

That’s why the cervical region is so critical. Misalignments in this area can interfere with communication between the brain and body, potentially contributing to symptoms like headaches, dizziness, brain fog, sinus issues, poor sleep, and difficulty concentrating. By correcting those misalignments, we help restore proper nerve flow and allow your body to function the way it was designed to.

Pelvic Bench

The pelvic bench is great for adjusting the pelvis and the low back, particularly for those who may be uncomfortable lying on their stomach — whether due to personal preference, mobility limitations, or specific life stages like pregnancy. The nerves that exit the lower spine and sacral region play a vital role in controlling the bladder, bowels, reproductive organs, and the muscles that support posture and movement in the hips and legs.

From a chiropractic perspective, this area is a major hub for structural stability and nerve communication. Misalignments here — known as subluxations — can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate and coordinate important functions. Whether you're dealing with low back tension, sciatic discomfort, or internal imbalances, clearing interference in the pelvic region allows the nervous system to reconnect and restore function from the inside out.

By addressing these subluxations, we’re not just easing discomfort — we’re helping your body reconnect to its innate intelligence so it can heal, adapt, and thrive.

Knee Chest

The knee chest table is named after the body parts that contact the table. To utilize this table you would kneel (many people call it their prayer bench) and your chest contacts the top of the table with a slot for you to breathe. This table is great for many adjustments from the low back to even the neck. It makes it very easy to provide chiropractic care for kids and babies as well because the table is very adaptable. This table (and the next one) is where we do most of our thoracic adjusting.

The nerves that exit from that area control many of the vital organs and functions in the midsection of the body — including the heart, lungs, stomach, liver, gallbladder, and more. When there’s interference in this region of the spine, it can affect everything from breathing and circulation to digestion and energy levels.

Adjusting the thoracic spine helps restore proper nerve flow between the brain and these core systems, allowing the body to self-regulate and heal more efficiently. Whether you're feeling tension between the shoulders, dealing with sluggish digestion, or simply seeking to optimize your health, clearing this part of the spine can have a big impact on how you feel and function day to day.

Hilo

The Hilo table is a very adaptable table allowing us to adjust almost everything in the spine. We can adjust the pelvis and the low back as well as the mid back and the neck. This table allows you to relax your muscles allowing the most gentle and specific adjustment possible. This table also goes up and down allowing people with significant low back pain and disc injuries to get on and off the table more easily. 

Leave It Alone

We know that once we correct the nerve pressure, it is up to your body to do the healing. The amount of time in between your adjustments will dictate how much healing takes place. The longer that your body can hold its adjustment, the more time your body spends with optimal function. That is our goal. 

We want you to be able to live life to your 100%. What that looks like for everyone is different but we want you to be able to fulfill the mission that has been set before you. Ensuring your nervous system is functioning at or as close to 100% as possible turns the possibility of you achieving your goal into a probability. And that is our mission. 

The Power of the Gonstead Technique

Since opening our doors in 2017, we’ve witnessed what many would call medical miracles—lives transformed after being told there was no hope. People who had tried everything and found nothing… until they found us. When we take the time to truly hear their story and analyze their nervous system, we uncover what others have missed—and empower the body to heal from within.

We’ve seen kids say “I love you” for the first time at 8 years old. Couples once told they could never conceive go on to have radiantly healthy babies. People who felt life was no longer worth living rediscover purpose and joy.

And some of the most powerful stories? Are the ones that never happen—because families are thriving and symptoms are prevented before they even begin.

If you're in the Jacksonville Beach area and want to experience this kind of care for yourself, we’d be honored to support you. Book a consultation with us today! 

Not local? Message us on Instagram and we’ll help you find a trusted Gonstead chiropractor near you. You deserve a care team that sees your potential—and knows how to help your body reach it.