The Gonstead Method
Gonstead Chiropractor in Jacksonville, FL
Most chiropractic adjusts the region: the neck, the lower back, the "whole spine." Gonstead is the opposite. A thorough five-step analysis identifies the specific segment causing the problem — and only that segment is adjusted. We don't guess. We measure.
Written by Dr. Bridget Farrar, DC & Dr. Vincent Farrar, DC, DICCP, CACCP ·
Free consultation. No referral needed.
What Is the Gonstead Method?
The Gonstead method is a system of chiropractic analysis and adjustment developed by Dr. Clarence Gonstead between the 1920s and 1960s, refined over a career of more than four million adjustments. It is built on a single principle: an adjustment is only as good as the analysis behind it. Five criteria — visualization, instrumentation, static palpation, motion palpation, and X-ray — identify the exact vertebral segment causing nervous-system interference. The adjustment is then specific, by hand, to that segment only.
"Find the subluxation. Accept it where it is. Correct it on its own terms. Leave it alone."
Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead
The Five Criteria
How Gonstead Analysis Works
Each criterion is a different lens on the same question: which specific segment is the source of the interference, and which direction has it moved?
How you stand, sit, and move. Posture, gait, and the small asymmetries that point to where the spine is compensating.
A handheld thermal scan (Nervoscope) reads heat differences along the spine. Heat asymmetry points to the segment under nervous-system stress.
Hands-on assessment with you still. We feel for tone, swelling, and tissue change at each vertebral level.
Hands-on assessment with you moving. We feel which segments move freely and which are restricted — the body shows us what visualization can't.
When clinically indicated, X-rays confirm the listing — the exact segment, the exact direction of misalignment, and the safe vector for correction.
Together, the five criteria are how we go from "your back hurts" to "your L5 has moved in a specific direction relative to your sacrum, and here is the corresponding adjustment." Precision instead of guesswork.
What Makes a Gonstead Adjustment Specific
Three things define a Gonstead adjustment:
- A specific segment is identified — never "the whole neck" or "the whole back."
- The adjustment is hands-on, with the patient positioned so only that segment moves.
- The vector — the exact line of correction — is matched to the listing the analysis revealed.
That is what "specific" means in chiropractic. It is not a style preference; it is how the method is taught. The result, for the patient, is an adjustment that addresses what the analysis found — and leaves everything else alone.
Why Sláinte
Gonstead, Family-Trained
The method is the method everywhere it is taught. The depth comes from how long you have lived inside it.
Third-Generation Gonstead
Dr. Bridget is a third-generation Gonstead chiropractor. The method has been in our family for 80 years.
Neurologically Focused
Gonstead identifies the segment. Neurological focus connects it to how the nervous system is functioning across the whole body.
INSiGHT Scans
On top of the five Gonstead criteria, we use INSiGHT nervous system scans on every patient. We don't guess — we measure.
Pregnancy & Pediatric Trained
Both doctors are Webster Certified; Dr. Vin is also DICCP & CACCP. Gonstead analysis works for every age.
Who Gonstead Care Is a Fit For
The precision of Gonstead is what lets the same method work safely across the whole family. The technique adapts; the analysis does not.
- Pregnant moms (combined with Webster Technique)
- Newborns, infants, and toddlers
- Kids with chronic ear infections, sleep, focus, or sensory challenges
- Adults with back, neck, hip, or chronic pain
- Athletes and active families who want precision over generic adjustment
- Anyone who has tried other chiropractic and not gotten lasting change
Your First Visit
What to Expect
No pressure. No guessing. You will leave understanding your spine — and your nervous system — better than when you arrived.
Tell Us What Brought You In
Symptoms, history, what you have already tried, and what you actually want from care. We listen before we recommend anything.
The Full Gonstead Analysis
Visualization, INSiGHT scans, static and motion palpation — and X-ray if clinically indicated. The findings drive the recommendation, not the other way around.
Clear, Specific Recommendations
We explain what we found, segment by segment, and whether Gonstead care is right for your situation. If it isn't, we will tell you that too.
The consultation is free. The first visit is $150 (INSiGHT scans included). X-rays, if clinically necessary, are $200 additional.
Things We Hear Often
Gonstead Method FAQ
What is the Gonstead method?
The Gonstead method is a system of chiropractic analysis and adjustment developed by Dr. Clarence Gonstead in the mid-20th century. It uses a five-step analysis — visualization, instrumentation (thermal scan), static palpation, motion palpation, and X-ray — to identify the specific vertebral segment causing nervous-system interference, then delivers a precise, hands-on adjustment to that segment only. The goal is to address the root cause rather than work the whole spine generically.
How is Gonstead different from "regular" chiropractic?
Many chiropractors adjust by region (e.g. "the neck," "the lower back") and use the same general adjustment for most patients. Gonstead is the opposite: a thorough analysis identifies the exact segment that is misaligned, the exact direction it has moved, and the exact biomechanics that will correct it. The adjustment is hands-on, specific, and patient-tailored — never a one-size-fits-all twist.
Is Gonstead safe for pregnancy and babies?
Yes. Gonstead is a system of analysis — the adjustment force is matched to the patient. For pregnant patients we combine Gonstead analysis with Webster Technique positioning. For babies and children, adjustments use the gentle pressure of a fingertip — about the pressure you would use to check the ripeness of a tomato. The precision of the method is what makes it appropriate at every age.
Does the Gonstead adjustment "crack" the spine?
Sometimes there's an audible release of gas from the joint (the same sound any joint can make), but the sound is not the point and not the goal. The adjustment is a specific, controlled motion to a specific segment. With infants, pregnant moms, and many adults, there is often no sound at all.
Do you use X-rays as part of Gonstead analysis?
X-ray analysis is one of the five Gonstead criteria, but only when it is clinically necessary. We do not X-ray every patient by default. The decision is based on what the other four criteria reveal during your assessment. If X-rays are clinically indicated, they are $200 in addition to your first visit.
Your Care Team
Your Gonstead Doctors
Dr. Bridget Farrar, DC
Third-Generation Gonstead Chiropractor · Webster Certified
Named Jacksonville Small Business Leader of the Year. Dr. Bridget grew up inside the Gonstead method — her family has practiced it for 80 years. Her adjustments are known for being precise, calm, and confidence-building.
Dr. Vincent Farrar, DC, DICCP, CACCP
Gonstead-Trained · ICPA Member · Webster Certified
Focused on neurologically-focused Gonstead analysis for kids and families. Brings a calm, clear communication style and an emphasis on explaining what the analysis found, in plain English.
What Patients Say About Gonstead
In Their Own Words
“The Gonstead method is unlike anything I've experienced before, and I appreciate the way it focuses on what the particular issue is with each visit. It isn't a 'one size fits all' chiropractic approach.”
Patient
“Their diagnostic process is very thorough. Because of this, the adjustments I receive are always very precise.”
Pregnancy & infant care
“Our first Gonstead chiropractic experience and it has been so enlightening. They are both incredible — offering support and education every visit.”
Pregnancy & newborn
Precision Over Guesswork.
Let's Find the Source.
Free consultation. No referral needed. Same-week appointments available.