About Gonstead

In my own opinion, Gonstead Chiropractic represents the ultimate standard in "hands on" spinal adjusting. Adhering to the definition of true chiropractic care as defined by D. D. Palmer, the founder of Chiropractic in 1895, Dr. Gonstead found there was no substitute or better method for analyzing or correcting spinal misalignments than with a pair of skilled chiropractic hands. This remains true for us today.

Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead (1898-1978) began practicing chiropractic in 1923 in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, a small farming community of 1,200 residents in South Central Wisconsin. Dr. Gonstead's reputation spread throughout the state, the country and ultimately around the world, as a multitude of patient's health problems were corrected remarkably fast by his system of chiropractic treatment. Hundreds of patients were seeking his care on a daily basis, and with his dedication to helping these patients, Dr. Gonstead worked from 8 a.m. to past midnight six days a week plus every Sunday morning from 5a.m to 10 a.m. to be able to accommodate these growing patient numbers. When Dr. Gonstead's schedule was at the limit of his physical capability, he knew the only solution to meet the public's health needs on the scale the public was demanding, was to build an unparalleled chiropractic treatment facility and staff it with Gonstead trained associates.

The Gonstead Clinic of Chiropractic, completed in 1964, was the third and final clinic Dr. Gonstead would design and adjust patients from in this little town of Mt. Horeb before his death in 1978. Dr. Gonstead had built the largest chiropractic facility in the world at 22,000 square feet clinic. The clinic had a waiting room to seat over 100 patients, 11 adjusting rooms, x-ray facilities, a lab, and a lower level to hold Chiropractic seminars. It was meant to become the most renowned chiropractic facility in the world. Next to his new clinic, Dr. Gonstead added a 78 room, full-service motel to accommodate the clinic's numerous long distance patients. Dr. Gonstead and his fellow staff members attended several hundred patients on a daily basis. This huge following of patients led Dr. Gonstead to start the Gonstead Seminar of Chiropractic, helping to teach and develop even more Chiropractors in the art and philosophy of the Gonstead system of chiropractic treatment.

Why I Practice Gonstead
I have been asked many times what fascinated me about and drew me to Gonstead Chiropractic care. I was originally drawn to Gonstead, as many others are to relieve my own pain that other methods, systems and protocols could not effectively treat and for me it basically started when I was 14 years old. There are no pictures of me from this time with exception of one, which one of my friends took and a few years ago sent to me for good reason. Back then I was 6'7" tall but weighed less than 130 lbs. I had then very poor posture, constantly bending forward. This posture and lack of muscle took a toll on my body and I had severe lower back pain. I took the conventional way of injections and heat and had to sign up for physical therapy. All that helped just a little and finally I was told to pick a sport to continue strengthening my spine and core muscles. Being that tall I picked basketball hoping that would help with my lower back pain. To be honest the constant pounding and jumping didn't help my spine, how could it?  I did however start to like basketball. I eventually received a scholarship for Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey and continued on further to play professional basketball in Germany, going to two NBA Rookie/Free Agent camps and playing international basketball for Germany. Unfortunately all that time on the court increased my back pain.  Desperate for relief I tried almost every treatment available.  I was unable to fine relief and I was told to have back surgery. I was fortunate to have a friend however who happened to also be an orthopedic surgeon. He mentioned Gonstead Chiropractic to me as an option instead of surgery. The Gonstead Method made perfect sense to him and after studying the system it also made sense to me.

The Gonstead Difference
I learned in my research that Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead developed this distinctive technique between 1923 and 1978. He became a chiropractor after a crippling episode of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. With a background in mechanical engineering and extensive hours spent studying cadaver spines, he developed a unique and biomechanical sound approach to chiropractic care based on scientific principles with results that can be reproduced, taught and duplicated. His application of these principles brought him both national and international acclaim, and he became known as the "chiropractor's chiropractor." His clinic in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin drew patients from all over the world. Next to his clinic he built a 78 room motel as well as an airstrip on the clinic property so patients could have the opportunity to fly into the small town from great distances. Dr. Gonstead's brilliant mind and lifelong experience of treating patients enabled him to continue to explore, develop and refine his technique, which is now taught and practiced by doctors of chiropractic all over the world.
This sold me on this unique chiropractic system of analysis and adjusting. When I started Chiropractic College I put all of my time, effort and training into learning Gonstead. After countless hours of studying, practicing and meeting with fellow "Gondroids" at college during breaks and at night, as well as continuing to attend seminars and workshops I felt confident to practice this challenging technique. Like Dr. Gonstead however I never consider myself done learning.