Gonstead Chiropractic

Gonstead Chiropractic started in the 1920’s when Dr Clarence Gonstead, the founder, graduated from the Palmer college of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. Originally a structural engineer he sort the help of a chiropractor when he suffered with rheumatoid arthritis and saw transformational results. It was at this stage in his life that Gonstead decided to change careers and enrolled at the fountain head of chiropractic where he learnt directly from B.J Palmer, the developer of Chiropractic.

Following Dr Gonstead’s graduation he firmly believed that there was a better way to analyse and correct/adjust spinal dysfunction and the biomechanics of the human frame. Dr Gonstead created a system using a five step method analyses of the spine involving visualisation, static palpation, motion palpation, instrumentation and spinography.  Following on from  his teachings with B.J Palmer, Dr Gonstead was then first chiropractor to utilise radiographs of the spine and applied his knowledge of structural engineering to the human frame. Gonstead believed the skeletal system was just like any other structural building and based his analysis and spinal correction and on the ‘foundation principal’, working from the pelvis upwards.

After graduating Dr Gonstead started his first practice in the sleepy town of Mt Horeb, Wisconsin, a small town with a population of 1200 people. Dr Gonstead subsequently moved his clinic two more times to be able to cope with the large number of patients travelling from all the world. His final clinic which completed in 1964 has become the most famous clinic in chiropractic history. The 22,000 sqt purpose built clinic included 11 adjusting rooms, a reception for 106 people, a motel with 78 rooms, X-ray facilities, a swimming pool, seminar rooms and also a private air field. 

The demand for his services became so large that Dr Gonstead decided to take the first Saturday of the month off to teach other chiropractors his work and the Gonstead seminar of chiropractic was created. Once Gonstead felt that some of the chiropractors were ready to apply his methods to patients he employed the best to work in his clinic. His first two associate chiropractors were Dr Alex and Dr Doug Cox, followed eventually by more. At its peak the clinic was attending to the needs of 300-400 patients per day.  At Capital chiropractic, Dr Stuart cooper learnt directly from Dr Alex and Doug whilst at university and thereafter, travelling to Wisconsin as often as possible. During his time spent in the states Stuart also became personal friends with Dr John Cox (Alex’s son) who now runs the Gonstead seminar of chiropractic having taken over from his father. Stuart has subsequently run chiropractic seminars in the UK with John and the Gonstead seminar of Chiropractic.

The majority of Gonstead chiropractors are based in the United States, however here at Capital Chiropractic patients travel from all over Scotland and beyond for Gonstead chiropractic.  We are the only Chiropractic clinic in Scotland that utilises this system in exactly the same way Doctor Gonstead did many years ago. Our collective of Gonstead chiropractors have helped thousands of patients domestic and international regain optimal spinal health. 

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