What Is Gonstead Chiropractic?
What Is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a primary healthcare profession aimed at restoring the communication between the brain and the body to improve function and get people back to what they love!
It is a system of locating and correcting misalignments in the spine — and other joints of the body — that lead to loss of function, and eventually and pain. At its heart, Chiropractic recognises that your body is intelligent and has been created with an extraordinary capacity to heal itself.
Consider what happens when you cut your finger: within a short period of time it heals completely — often without a trace. This is your body's innate intelligence at work. The same healing potential exists throughout your entire body, provided there is no interference preventing it from doing so.
Consider what happens when you cut your finger: within a short period of time it heals completely — often without a trace. This is your body's innate intelligence at work. The same healing potential exists throughout your entire body, provided there is no interference preventing it from doing so.
Gonstead: The Gold Standard in Chiropractic Care
At Northwood Chiropractic Oxford, we believe exceptional results come from exceptional analysis. That is why we specialise in the Gonstead system. This is a precise and methodical approach to identifying and correcting spinal problems, with the aim of restoring proper function to the body. It represents one of the most advanced and accurate forms of chiropractic care, focused on addressing the root cause of your issue rather than just the symptoms.
This approach uses a detailed five-step analysis to detect spinal misalignments, joints that are not moving correctly and may be placing pressure on nearby nerves.
As Albert Einstein famously said, “I would spend 55 minutes defining the problem and then five minutes solving it.” We take the same philosophy into our care, dedicating time to thorough assessment so that each adjustment is as precise and effective as possible.
Developed by Dr Clarence Gonstead, the Gonstead system is known for its in-depth diagnostic process. This includes comprehensive spinal examinations, digital X-rays where appropriate, and a careful evaluation of how your spine is functioning. Each adjustment is then delivered by hand and tailored specifically to you.
By correcting these specific areas of dysfunction, Gonstead Chiropractic helps restore proper spinal alignment and supports the nervous system. This allows your body to function at its best and promotes natural healing and long-term health.
This approach uses a detailed five-step analysis to detect spinal misalignments, joints that are not moving correctly and may be placing pressure on nearby nerves.
As Albert Einstein famously said, “I would spend 55 minutes defining the problem and then five minutes solving it.” We take the same philosophy into our care, dedicating time to thorough assessment so that each adjustment is as precise and effective as possible.
Developed by Dr Clarence Gonstead, the Gonstead system is known for its in-depth diagnostic process. This includes comprehensive spinal examinations, digital X-rays where appropriate, and a careful evaluation of how your spine is functioning. Each adjustment is then delivered by hand and tailored specifically to you.
By correcting these specific areas of dysfunction, Gonstead Chiropractic helps restore proper spinal alignment and supports the nervous system. This allows your body to function at its best and promotes natural healing and long-term health.
The Legacy of Dr. Clarence Gonstead
Dr Clarence Gonstead (1898 to 1978) revolutionised Chiropractic care by developing a system built on precision and specificity. At a time when many Chiropractic techniques were still relatively basic, he refined the approach to focus on detailed analysis and exact correction, leading to significantly improved patient outcomes and one of the most successful practices of his era.
His clinic became so renowned that patients travelled from across the United States for care. It even featured its own runway for those that would fly in, along with on-site accommodation for those staying during treatment.
Today, at our Oxford clinic, we are proud to continue his legacy, delivering the same commitment to precision, thoroughness, and excellence in every patient we care for.
His clinic became so renowned that patients travelled from across the United States for care. It even featured its own runway for those that would fly in, along with on-site accommodation for those staying during treatment.
Today, at our Oxford clinic, we are proud to continue his legacy, delivering the same commitment to precision, thoroughness, and excellence in every patient we care for.
What Makes Gonstead Unique?
What sets Gonstead Chiropractic apart from regular chiropractic care is its precision and the depth of its diagnostic process. While traditional chiropractic practices may focus on general spinal adjustments (or sometimes referred to as manipulation), Gonstead Chiropractic goes a step further with a detailed assessment to ensure each adjustment is precise to the cause of the problem, specific to the patient in front of them.
Gonstead practitioners use specialized equipment to help gain greater results for more patients. Most significantly, these include:
Gonstead practitioners use specialized equipment to help gain greater results for more patients. Most significantly, these include:
- The Nervo-Scope – an advanced instrument equipped with two heat sensors that detect subtle changes in skin temperature along the spine. As spinal misalignments create pressure on nerves, they can lead to temperature variations, which the Nervo-Scope identifies as it is gently run along the spine. This allows practitioners to locate areas of dysfunction with greater accuracy, guiding them in delivering targeted adjustments that promote healing and restore balance to the nervous system.
- X-Rays - when indicated, allow for extra detail and certainty of the exact alignment of the spine. This helps improve the precision of the adjustments which yeild better long term results.
- X-Rays - when indicated, allow for extra detail and certainty of the exact alignment of the spine. This helps improve the precision of the adjustments which yeild better long term results.
Please note this image is for demonstration purposes only. Adjustments are never made through the clothes.
- Hi-Lo Bench - this is an electroically operated bench that has the ability to bring patients comfortably from the standing position to the lying down postion, ready for the adjustment. It's also has many adjustable parts to it that allows maximum ability to adapt the bench specifically to the patient.
- Knee Chest Table - a table that is designed to position the patient in a way that allows for precise, hands-on adjustments while they are in a comfortable, prone (face-down) position. The patient places their knees on the bottom of the table and their chest on a padded support above, which helps to open up the lower spine, making it easier for the chiropractor to apply targeted adjustments.
These additional pieces of equipment increase the detail of the exam and the precision of the adjustments. This reduces the risk of overcorrection or undercorrection, resulting in more effective corrections with long-term results.
In addition, having a variety of benches means we can adapt what we need to do to the specific needs of the person in front of us. This not only improves our results but also increases the comfort and overall experience of the process.
- Knee Chest Table - a table that is designed to position the patient in a way that allows for precise, hands-on adjustments while they are in a comfortable, prone (face-down) position. The patient places their knees on the bottom of the table and their chest on a padded support above, which helps to open up the lower spine, making it easier for the chiropractor to apply targeted adjustments.
These additional pieces of equipment increase the detail of the exam and the precision of the adjustments. This reduces the risk of overcorrection or undercorrection, resulting in more effective corrections with long-term results.
In addition, having a variety of benches means we can adapt what we need to do to the specific needs of the person in front of us. This not only improves our results but also increases the comfort and overall experience of the process.
Our In-Depth Process - How We get To The Root Of Your Problem
To get to the root cause of your problem, an integral part of the Gonstead system to accurately assess the spine is the 5 step assessment process. This is unparalleled to any other process out there for finding misalignments in the spine. This includes:
1. Thorough Health History
Understanding precisely what’s going on with your health and the challenges you are currently facing.
2. Structural Analysis
Identifying abnormal alignment patterns such as head, shoulder and pelvic levels as well as curvatures in the spine using precise measurements.
3. Nerve Scans
A handheld instrument with two heat sensors that detect changes in skin temperature caused by nerve interference.
4. Palpation
Using our hands to feel for joint motion & position, swelling, skin changes and altered muscle tone.
5. Digital X-Ray Analysis*
Helps us precisely identify the condition and alignment of your spine (when required).
Northwood Chiropractic Oxford
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John Eccles House
Oxford Science Park
Robert Robinson Avenue
Littlemore, Oxford
OX4 4GP
Serving Oxford City Center, Cowley, Littlemore & Sandford-on-Thames
