From those crude beginnings over a century ago, both chiropractic and X-ray imaging have come a long way. Today, the chiropractic profession is a leader in the reduction of X-ray exposure and practice member safety.
Wilhelm Roentgen won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1901 for the discovery of the X-ray.
Chiropractors Regularly Utilize Diagnostic X-rays
Click here for study, "What Patients Want to Know Before Having an Imaging Exam... Are patients most concerned about radiation? A study found the answer".
Based on the nature of your condition as well as a number of other factors, x-ray studies of your spine or injured body part may be indicated. Chiropractors receive over 300 hours of x-ray studies in college prior to graduating. They are also tested on these procedures in their board exams. Dr. Pisarek is fully trained and certified to take radiographs and identify abnormalities of the spine as well as more serious pathologies.
X-Rays are Safe and Provide Valuable Diagnostic Information
Factors to Decrease Exposure
While prolonged exposure to radiation can be potentially harmful to the human body, the diagnostic x-rays utilized by Dr. Pisarek at Advanced Healthcare pose a minimal health risk. In fact, according to radiation guidelines for diagnostic x-ray studies, it would take more than 300 full spine x-rays performed by a chiropractor for these guidelines to be met.
In addition, the following steps are used to further reduce the amount of x-ray exposure:
- We only take necessary and specific x-ray views: eliminating unnecessary x-ray exposure.
- We refer our patients requiring x-rays to radiology labs that take medical HD (high-definition) digital x-rays (not requiring film) that produce sharper images with lower radiation exposure emissions when compared to older film x-ray technology..
- Shielding and filtration: block or reduce the x-ray beam from affecting sensitive tissues and areas of non-diagnostic interest.
- Rare Earth (intensifying) screens: can cut x-ray exposure by 50 percent.
- Collimation: narrows the x-ray beam to focus on specific anatomy.
- Grids: reduce scatter radiation, and improve image contrast and quality.
- High speed film: lowers exposure time by up to 1/12th compared to hospital x-rays.
- Increasing kilovoltage & minimizing milliamperage: further reduces x-ray exposure.
- Minimal exposure time: as small as 100ths of a second.
- Regular changing of processor chemicals: give high quality, diagnostic films.
- Regular equipment inspection and licensing
References:
- Radiologic Science for Technologists: Physics, Biology, and Protection. 6th Edition; Stuart C. Bushong. St. Louis : Mosby, 1997
- 1988 Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors - Plaugher G. Textbook of Clinical Chiropractic: A Specific Biomechanical Approach. Baltimore : Williams & Wilkins, 1993