Inside Gonstead Training: What It Actually Takes to Learn This Technique

All chiropractors complete a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, which includes broad training across many techniques and approaches. Gonstead technique isn't a required part of every program's core curriculum — it's something a practitioner has to seek out and build additional skill in, often through seminars, hands-on mentorship, and continued study with practitioners who already use the system.

What that additional training focuses on is specific: reading and measuring full-spine X-rays using Gonstead's line-and-angle analysis, using instrumentation like the Nervoscope consistently and accurately, refining static and motion palpation to isolate a single segment rather than a general region, and learning the specific adjusting mechanics used to correct one segment in one direction.

It's a technique that rewards repetition and mentorship — the kind of hands-on refinement that's harder to get from a textbook alone. That's part of why the number of practitioners who go through it and continue practicing this way is smaller than the number of chiropractors overall.

Dr. Will Bartlett pursued this training deliberately, studying under established Gonstead practitioners before opening his own practice in Gray. It's an ongoing area of study, not a box that gets checked once — Gonstead seminars and continuing education remain part of staying sharp with the technique.

Read more: Dr. Will Bartlett's training background, the Gonstead exam process.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gonstead training part of every chiropractic degree program?

No — it typically requires additional, focused training and mentorship beyond the standard Doctor of Chiropractic curriculum.

How long does it take to become skilled in Gonstead technique?

It varies, but proficiency generally develops through ongoing seminars, mentorship, and repeated hands-on practice over time, not a single course.

Does Gonstead training ever really stop?

Most practitioners continue attending seminars and refining technique throughout their careers, since precision in reading X-rays and delivering specific adjustments improves with ongoing practice.

[Meet Dr. Will Bartlett](/dr-will-bartlett) — Mainestream Health Co., 15 Main Street, Gray, ME. Call or text (207) 317-6770.