By: Adam Renelt, DC
Updated 1/25/2024
How I Chose to be a Chiropractor
Sometimes at a visit a patient will ask me how and why I choose to focus on the Gonstead method of chiropractic. I first decided that I wanted to be a chiropractor when I was a junior in high school. I had experienced chiropractic care for the first time that year after having an injury during a football game. Chiropractic adjustments helped me to feel better for my next game and I continued to see a chiropractor for the rest of my season. Later that year I had to write a paper about a career that I was interested in. After I did some research on chiropractic I decided to make it the topic of my paper. Chiropractic interested me because the profession focused on helping people improve their health, naturally.
How I First Learned About Gonstead
After completing my bachelor’s degree at the University of South Dakota I enrolled in the Doctor of Chiropractic program at Palmer College of Chiropractic. At the time, I didn’t really know about the variations of how chiropractic care was practiced. I also didn’t realize how many chiropractic techniques existed. There are over 100 unique chiropractic techniques that have been developed by various chiropractors and institutions within the profession. While in my first year at Palmer I was exposed to many of the different techniques that a chiropractor can learn. One of my friends was very interested in the Gonstead System as that was the technique that his childhood chiropractic provider used. He convinced me to start attending the Gonstead Club and later to attend a Gonstead Seminar. After attending my first Gonstead seminar I thought the system made sense as it seemed to be very logical and biomechanically sound. I was also impressed by the first Gonstead adjustment I received and how it felt like only one vertebra (bone) was specifically adjusted at a time. Also, I liked how the Gonstead system can be adapted and on patients of any age or body type.
The Gonstead Method and Private Practice
I decided to attend Gonstead Club on a regular basis and attended more seminars to learn more about Dr. Gonstead’s work. Learning to perform the chiropractic adjustments used by the Gonstead system, such as the cervical chair, was challenging. However, I tried to learn and practice as much as I could. I gradually improved my skills and eventually was able to adjust patients using the Gonstead method. After graduating from Palmer College and moving to Sioux Falls to open our office, I have continued to try to learn more about chiropractic care and the Gonstead system. After 16 years of clinical practice, I still contact mentors to ask questions about difficult cases. Also, I still attend seminars to try to learn more information to help my patients. While I still look to more experienced Gonstead chiropractors and know that I have always room to improve further, I find that patients typically respond quickly to a specific adjustment such as that offered by the Gonstead System. I also appreciate the fact that if a patient is travelling or moving to another town, I can refer them to a Gonstead chiropractor and expect them to receive similar care to what they received at our office.
If someone has tried chiropractic in the past and not had the results they were looking for, I would recommend trying a Gonstead chiropractor. If we don’t think that we may be able to help your case we will let you know and discuss other options that may be beneficial. For anyone that lives in the Sioux Falls area and is looking for a new chiropractor, please contact our office and schedule an appointment.