1. Usually on your first visit to the office, you will meet with your Gonstead doctor right away in a comfortable exam room. You will be greeted with a friendly face as you fill out the appropriate forms. 
2. The doctor will talk with you about your health concerns. He will take a detailed history of your health issues to help determine if yours is a chiropractic case.
(Gonstead doctors listen...and always encourage you to ask lots of questions!)
3. Next, you will have a complete exam that will include special tests. These tests help determine where your 
problem areas might be and how the doctor will address them. The tests include: static palpation, which is simply feeling the bones in your spine for tenderness, swelling and other abnormalities; motion palpation, which is simply bending your spine to look for signs of fixation; instrumentation, which involves running a Nervo-scope down your spine to locate areas of swelling. The nervoscope feels like two fingers gliding down your spine. It detects heat, which is an indication of swelling. These tests, in addition to others, help the doctor determine if yours is a chiropractic case...and if they can help you.
(Ladies, we have thick, long gowns that only open wide enough to examine your spine. The exam is a time to relax and let the doctor do the work.)
4. Then, if necessary, full spine, weight bearing (standing) x-rays will be taken. X-rays are taken for several reasons. These include: 1. to determine the condition of the discs (the cushions between the vertebrae in your spine); 2. to determine the phases of degeneration; 3. to locate potential problem areas, misalignments and; 4. to rule out other pathologies (disease).
(To see is to know, to not see is to guess. Gonstead doctors won’t want to guess at your health care. X-rays are an important tool of analysis.)
5. After the x-rays, you may watch an informational video that introduces you to chiropractic and the office. This gives the doctor not only time to analyze the x-rays but also important information so they can provide you with the best care possible. 
There is usually a financial policy review. And any questions that you may have will be answered. You are then ready to for your first adjustment by the doctor. An adjustment is a specific hands on force applied to the vertebrae with the goal of allowing more function to the joint. Following your adjustment you will be given instructions on what to do until your next visit.
Why Do I Need To Use A Gown?
One of the first things any doctor must do is visualize (see) the problem, this can not be done if the patient does not expose their spine. The most common complaint about other health professionals is that they failed to even touch the area of complaint. In a profession of healing simply placing your hand on the exact area of complaint will give the patient some relief in the fact that you were able to identify the problem.
The Gonstead System is a method used to analyze and care for the spine. This technique is a very effective method of correction because it is specific and accurate in evaluating and adjusting the spine. Its use requires four methods of analysis.
Will I see results right away?
This depends on a number of things like the nature and history of the illness. Sometimes, chiropractic results may be achieved very quickly. Other times, it may take weeks to months because of changes that have occurred in the body in response to the
subluxation(s).
Will my pain be relieved?
In many instances, taking pressure off the nerve is all that is needed for relief of pain.
Can children be adjusted too?
YES! It is best to have children checked for subluxations as early as possible. This will ensure that they are fulfilling their own potential to live and grow as healthy as they can.