What makes us so special?

Chiropractic has come a long way since D. D.Palmer, the founder of chiropracic, gave the first spinal adjustment in 1895. Today, there are over a hundred different methods used by chiropractors to correct spinal misalignments; however, there is one technique that stands out as one of the most advanced and scientific methods of chiropractic - the Gonstead System. The doctors at Back to Health Wellness Center are the only chiropractic physicians in LaPorte County to be certified in this advanced technique.

The Gonstead System

Dr. C. S. Gonstead (1898-1978) was known as the "Miracle Man" and built what came to be known as the "Mayo Clinic of Chiropractic". His systematic approach to chiropractic became the gold-standard of the profession. Even though he set up practice in the small town of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, he managed to care for over 4 million patients throughout his 55-year career. In fact, his practice grew so large that he had to build a hotel next to his clinic just to accommodate all of his out of town patients as well as an air stip so patients could be flown in from all over the world to be treated by him. People from all walks of life sought him out for chiropractic care, including Thomas Edison.

With a background in mechanical engineering, Dr. Gonstead saw the human spine as an intricate engineering wonder and he studied it every chance he had - even dissecting cadavers on his "days off". His work with hundreds of thousands of spinal cases, his constant clinical studies of the spine, and his own innate knowledge of how the spine works, explains his ingenuity in finding, identifying and correcting subluxations no one else could. Thankfully for the profession - and for mankind - Dr. Gonstead created a system of chiropractic that could be replicated by those doctors willing to spend the extra time in learning this extraordinary technique.

Our Doctors at Back to Health Wellness Center are trained exclusively in the Gonstead System. There is a clinical logic to every decision that is made for each and every patient. This ensures that the principles outlined by Dr. Gonstead will be duplicated, the results achieved and satisfied patients will be the mission of our practice!

The "Gonstead Chiropractor"

Since each and every patient is unique, no two patients are adjusted exactly the same. Each patient is adjusted according to their specific spinal or extremity misalignment. The Gonstead Chiropractor goes beyond what many chiropractors consider a spinal assessment by conducting a thorough analysis of your spine using five criteria to detect the presence of the vertebral subluxation complex.

Visualization - Visualization is a way to cross reference all the other findings. Your chiropractor is an expert in looking for subtle changes in your posture and movement which could indicate any problems.

Instrumentation - The instrument of choice in the Gonstead System is the Nervoscope. The Nervoscope detects uneven distributions of heat along the spine which can be indicative of inflammation and nerve pressure. This instrument is guided down the length of your back and feels like two fingers gliding down each side of your spine.

Static Palpation - This is simply the process of feeling (or palpating) your spine in a stationary (or static) position. Your chiropractor will feel for the presence of swelling (or edema), tenderness and any abnormal texture or tightness in the muscles and other tissues of your back.

Motion Palpation - This process involves feeling the spine while moving and bending it at various angles. This enables the chiropractor to determine how easily or difficult each segment in your spine moves in different directions.

X-Ray Analysis - X-rays enable your doctor to visualize the entire structure of your spine. This is helpful in evaluating posture, joint and disc integrity, vertebral misalignments and ruling out any pathologies, or recent fractures that may be present or contributing to the patient's condition. These full-spine radiographs are taken in the standing, weight-bearing position to fully substantiate the examination findings.