Chiropractors have many methods to help you heal and reduce stress on your mind and body.
One of the biggest methods they use is adjustment. Adjustment involves using small and controlled movements to apply sudden force on the spine which can help with mobility and physical function.
However, before your first adjustment, your chiropractor will often have an x-ray done as a diagnostic tool. An x-ray allows for your chiropractor to identify what the cause of your pain or discomfort is with more precision and to ensure there is not an underlying cause that could be damaged further with chiropractic adjustments.
What are X-Rays?
An x-ray uses electromagnetic radiation to view the inside of a person or thing. The reason x-rays work so well and are used so often in medicine is because of how they are able to penetrate surfaces, such as skin and soft tissue (less dense materials). Then, when the x-ray reaches denser parts of the body like bones and teeth, it will not penetrate them and will capture them in the image. There are other ways to obtain images of the inside of a patient’s body that are often used by medical professionals such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging or CT scans, but those are often reserved for someone who is going to need surgery or has a more severe, chronic condition that could not be otherwise diagnosed.
Why are X-Rays Helpful for Chiropractic Care?
An x-ray gives your chiropractor the ability to actually see your spine and the state it is in. This will ensure that they can give proper treatment for whatever the injury or discomfort may be. It may even tell the chiropractor that adjustment is not the proper course of action. A chiropractor may even go as far as having a patient have an x-ray done a few times throughout treatment to make sure that the spine is being adjusted properly and more harm isn’t being done. Here are a few examples of when x-rays are super useful for chiropractors:
- Identify any spinal degeneration
- Monitor spinal deformities that have a chance of getting worse, such as scoliosis
- Diagnose any trauma that may have caused a fracture
Chiropractors will even look out for things they would not treat such as tumors and cancer. Chiropractors are trained professionals in looking for signs of all types of illness, disease, and disorders.
Some people feel that it is unnecessary to get an x-ray done by a chiropractor. While there are some negatives to x-rays, the danger usually only comes with ongoing and frequent exposure. The pros definitely outweigh the cons in this situation.
By starting your chiropractic journey with an initial consultation exam and x-rays, your chiropractor can make sure they are properly diagnosing you so that the cause of your pain has a much higher chance of being treated while also making sure they will not be doing any additional damage (or that there are not other underlying conditions causing pain).
To start your chiropractic journey in Strongsville, schedule your free consultation today at Duncan Chiropractic.