Our Approach
Sarasota's MOST Accomplished Gonstead Chiropractor
the gonstead technique
Our patients travel from all over the world to experience the world-renowned Gonstead Technique. The science behind this cutting-edge technique results in the most accurate, specific, and definite approach to evaluating and adjusting the spine. Because the spinal column is a dynamic structure affecting the entire body, the Gonstead Technique uses five criteria to check the spine for motion, soft tissue damage, and neurological dysfunction. This valuable and detailed analysis includes instrumentation, static palpation, motion palpation, visualization, and spinal imaging, followed by adjusting the articulations of the spine by hand only. Through this comprehensive, proactive approach to correcting the spine, we find that the entire body begins functioning better as a whole. There is clinical logic in every decision made for each and every patient. This ensures the principles outlined by Dr. Gonstead will be duplicated, the results achieved, and satisfied patient referrals stimulated.
instrumentation
The Gonstead chiropractor uses a thermal detection instrument that discerns heat differentials along the spine consistent with inflammation and nerve pressure. The instrument obtains objective neurological evidence of vertebral subluxation and monitors the progress of patient care.
motion And static palpation
When nerves are compressed and spinal joints malfunction, they produce swelling (edema) in the area; they “lock up” and surrounding muscles tighten. Your Gonstead chiropractor will feel for these areas on your back and neck using the fingertips and can feel which joints move improperly.
visualization
Your Gonstead chiropractor visually looks for abnormalities in skin, muscle tone, posture, and gait to help locate misalignments of your spine. Visualization is crucial when taking into account all other criteria and making important decisions about your corrective care.
spinal imaging
Postural spinal x-rays allow for a “blueprint” of your spine, which is important in determining specifically how the involved spinal segments are to be adjusted. X-rays are also helpful in determining previous trauma, postural abnormalities, the approximate length of time spinal misalignments have been present, and guides the journey to correction.
SPINE adjustments
Your initial findings using the five criteria will let us confirm and show you if there are deficiencies in your spinal structure. By correcting the structure of the spine by hand only with time and repetition, patients achieve and sustain their results and likely rid themselves of other symptoms. Our doctors recognize that as your spine is adjusted and ultimately corrected, proper changes in posture will be evident on the x-ray. Before and after spinal imaging is an important element of confirming the success or furthering of our focused efforts to realign the spine toward a healthy normal posture. If your case is accepted, we will recommend an appropriate corrective program comprised of a carefully planned series of Gonstead adjustments.
Extremity adjustments
Extremity adjusting, as taught by the late Dr. Mark Werking, is a technique based on Dr. Gonstead’s work that we use to correct paravertebral joint fixations. We use the five criteria in the analysis and correction of extremity conditions. Specific adjustments are made to the extremities to bring about alignment, enhance joint function, and restore range of motion.
Extremity adjustments
Extremity adjusting, as taught by the late Dr. Mark Werking, is a technique based on Dr. Gonstead’s work that we use to correct paravertebral joint fixations. We use the five criteria in the analysis and correction of extremity conditions. Specific adjustments are made to the extremities to bring about alignment, enhance joint function, and restore range of motion.
SPINE adjustments
Your initial findings using the five criteria will let us confirm and show you if there are deficiencies in your spinal structure. By correcting the structure of the spine by hand only with time and repetition, patients achieve and sustain their results and likely rid themselves of other symptoms. Our doctors recognize that as your spine is adjusted and ultimately corrected, proper changes in posture will be evident on the x-ray. Before and after spinal imaging is an important element of confirming the success or furthering of our focused efforts to realign the spine toward a healthy normal posture. If your case is accepted, we will recommend an appropriate corrective program comprised of a carefully planned series of Gonstead adjustments.
Chiropractic care for extremities
Sarasota's #1 Gonstead Extremity Expert
Did you know that Chiropractors can also adjust your feet, ankles, hips, hands, wrists, shoulders, and even your jaw? It’s called extremity adjusting. That’s right; Chiropractors don’t just adjust necks and backs! The definition of adjusting an extremity is to instill alignment and proper motion within that joint. There are literally hundreds of joints in our arms, legs, hands, and feet. And- just like the joints of the spine- they can become “locked up” or misaligned through injuries, improper use, or repetitive stress.
By its definition, a subluxation is a bone that has lost its juxtaposition with an adjacent bone and has caused nerve interference, dysfunction, and often pain. Even D.D. Palmer, the founder of chiropractic, said in his The Chiropractor’s Adjustor, “The cause of pressure in 95% of diseased conditions is (sub)luxated vertebrae. The cause of the remaining 5% is the (sub)laxation of other bones than those of the vertebral column.” Therefore, any articulation can subluxate, including extremities; and as a Doctor of Chiropractic, one must treat the body as a whole and not as individual parts. Freeing the spine from subluxation is important because it can cause pain in the extremities. Rarely will one find an extremity subluxation without a spinal subluxation unless a direct trauma has been introduced to that extremity.
Gonstead Chiropractic care is an intelligent way to keep the joints of the spine in proper motion and alignment to improve the body’s health. This same art can also be applied to the joints of the extremities. Vertical Chiropractic® applies the specific approach to extremity care using a multi-criteria method developed by the late Dr. Mark Werking, DC. Dr. Werking was a Gonstead Fellow who trained under the teaching of Dr. Gonstead and the Cox brothers. Like the Gonstead technique, the Werking on Extremities method uses a more specific approach to extremity care using visualization, motion palpation, static palpation, and X-ray analysis to find the exact misalignment causing the extremity condition.
corrective care
SARASOTA’S POSTURE SPECIALIST
Corrective care focuses on addressing the root cause of a problem to achieve long-term health improvements, rather than just providing temporary relief. It often involves a more comprehensive approach than relief care, aiming to restore proper function and structure, particularly within the spine. This can include exercises, stretches, and other techniques to realign the spine and improve nervous system function.
Your initial postural spinal images will let us confirm and show you if there are deficiencies in your spinal structure. By correcting the structure of the spine with time and repetition, patients will sustain their results and likely rid themselves of other symptoms, some of which they may have suffered for years. Lasting change comes with time. Our doctors recognize that as your spine is adjusted and ultimately corrected, proper changes in posture will be evident on the x-ray. Before and after spinal imaging is an important element of confirming the success or furthering of our focused efforts to realign the spine toward a healthy normal posture. Naturally, our Gonstead doctors use only the specific adjustment to achieve results. If indicated, we will recommend an appropriate corrective program comprised of a carefully planned series of Gonstead adjustments. Since everyone’s spine is unique, treatment outcomes vary with each individual case.
