Chiropractic Care in Your Area
Frisco Chiropractor will use five specific components to evaluate the health of your spine. These include X-Rays, palpation with your chiropractor’s hands, instrumentation using a tool called the Nervoscope, which takes bilateral temperature readings of the spine and visualization of your posture and gait. The Gonstead method of adjustment is designed to be very gentle, safe and effective for all ages including children, pregnant women, and seniors. It is one of the most accurate forms of chiropractic available.
X-Ray Analysis
Your Gonstead chiropractor will take specialized chiropractic weight-bearing x-rays of your whole spine. These x-rays will help your doctor understand the mechanical changes in your posture and alignment that may be contributing to any health complaints. These x-rays are also helpful to see if there is a vertebral subluxation (bone displacement) present that requires an adjustment.
Once your Gonstead chiropractor has looked at your x-rays they will complete a static palpation examination in which they will feel various areas of the spine and pelvic girdle in a stationary position for signs of edema, tenderness or knots. They will then move onto a motion palpation in which they will move around the body feeling for the ease or difficulty to move certain joints. This helps them to determine if any spinal segments and/or joints are misaligned and in what direction they are misaligned.
In order to be a Gonstead Chiropractor it takes a lot of time and training to learn all the steps of the Gonstead technique. Only about 5% of Chiropractors practice the full Gonstead method. Once your chiropractor has examined you in a static and motion Palpation and matched up their findings with the x-ray analysis they will then use instrumentation to further confirm their diagnosis. The most commonly used instrument for the Gonstead method is the nervoscope which works by sensing uneven distributions of heat on the spine from nerve compression. Nerve compression creates inflammation which can be sensed as a change in temperature on the spine.
This method of Chiropractic is effective for many musculoskeletal problems such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, and much more. The reason why Gonstead Chiropractic is so effective is that it focuses on not only treating the symptom of your problem but treating the root cause of the problem in a way that your body can recognize and heal naturally. When your body is unable to correctly balance and align its parts it begins to compensate by using other areas of the body which can lead to pain, stiffness and swelling over time.
Instrumentation
There are many techniques in chiropractic, all designed to correct spinal misalignments and joint dysfunctions. One of the most advanced methods is called the Gonstead Technique. A Gonstead chiropractor will use a full spine X-Ray analysis, static and motion palpation and the nervoscope to delve deeper into the specifics of your problem. This is a more thorough exam than most other chiropractors use and it allows for a more accurate assessment of the spinal mechanics and ramifications of a vertebral subluxation.
A Gonstead chiropractor will first analyze the X-rays of your spine using five criteria to detect subluxation complexes. They will also assess your posture, scoliosis and vertebrae and disk integrity to make sure that you are not having additional problems beyond your primary complaint. The X-rays will give a clear view of the entire structure of your spine which helps them determine the best way to adjust it.
The physical examination starts with a visual analysis. The Gonstead chiropractor will place you in a gown so they can easily see your skin, posture and movement and identify asymmetries that may indicate the presence of a subluxation. They will then move on to the instrumentation portion of the exam. The nervoscope is used to detect uneven distributions of heat along the length of your spine that can be indicative of inflammation and nerve pressure. It is guided down your spine and feels like two fingers gliding down each side of your back.
Static palpation involves feeling your spine in a static position, with the doctor moving through a range of motions to feel for any areas of tenderness or discomfort. The doctor will use the nervoscope to help pinpoint the area of your spine that requires adjustment. Then they will utilize the specialized Gonstead tables, including the Hi-Lo and knee-chest table, to get you into the proper mechanical position for your adjustment.
With the X-rays, the nervoscope, static and motion palpation, and the use of a specially designed table, a Gonstead doctor will have all the information they need to deliver the most effective adjustment possible for your spinal issue. They will be able to focus on the corrective thrust, knowing exactly where it should go and how much force is needed to achieve the desired result. This is how the Gonstead Method differs from most other chiropractic techniques, delivering the most precise and effective adjustment.
Motion Palpation
While regular chiropractors might use different adjustment techniques based on symptoms, a Gonstead chiropractor only uses the Gonstead Method. This method requires a more in-depth analysis of the spine using five specific criteria. These include X-rays, palpitations (feeling the spine with the chiropractor’s hands), instrumentation, static palpation and motion palpation. This is a more precise approach to spinal treatment and allows for highly accurate adjustments.
Clarence Gonstead was a mechanical engineer who loved taking things apart and rebuilding them. He applied this natural love for problem-solving to his chiropractic practice. He considered the human spine much like a machine, and his in-depth Gonstead analysis was a game-changer for the industry. Gonstead chiropractors take the time to consider each individual’s unique posture and health history, and then they adjust the spine according to their findings.
During the X-ray examination, a Gonstead chiropractor can get a detailed look at each of your spine’s bones and their relationships to each other. They can see if the spine is misaligned and determine if there are any fractures present. The X-rays also help to identify any degenerative changes in the spine.
After analyzing the X-rays, a Gonstead chiropractor will move on to static palpation. During this process, you’ll be asked to sit in a chair and put on a gown. This is because a Gonstead chiropractor needs to be able to feel your skin tissue without the pull of clothing pulling on it. They can then locate any muscle spasms, knots or swellings that may be present.
Static palpation also lets the chiropractor feel your joints for stiffness and flexibility. During the analysis, they’ll be looking for asymmetries between key landmarks on your body, such as the occiput, mastoid process, acromion, inferior border of the scapula, and the iliac crest. These asymmetries can point to problems in the spine and indicate how a subluxation could be contributing to your symptoms.
A Gonstead chiropractor will also perform motion palpation on your spine while it is in certain positions. They’ll look for any tightness or mobility issues that might be contributing to your pain and discomfort. This is a way for them to check if the spinal misalignment they identified with X-rays and static palpation has moved.
Static Palpation
After completing the initial visual examination while you’re wearing a gown and taking the x-rays, your Gonstead chiropractor will move onto static palpation. They’ll feel different areas of your body in a static position to identify any tenderness, knots, or swellings. The goal of this step is to locate the primary misalignments that are causing your symptoms.
During the static palpation process, your Gonstead chiropractor will also use an instrument called a nervoscope. This tool detects heat generated by inflammation in the spinal nerves. If the nervoscope detects a thermal change at a specific site, it indicates that a nerve is being compressed by a vertebral misalignment. This information will help the chiropractor develop a treatment plan to address the issue.
Once your chiropractor has identified the problem area, they’ll move on to motion palpation. In motion palpation, your chiropractor will use their hands to move different parts of your body through a full range of movements. During this process, they’ll assess your muscle tone as well. This is important because muscle tone can be a telltale sign of how well your nervous system is functioning.
Throughout the assessment process, your chiropractor will continue to take x-rays to monitor your progress. If they notice a change in the alignment of your spine, they’ll take additional x-rays to verify the changes. This is done to ensure that your chiropractor is making positive and consistent adjustments.