X-Rays

Woodburn Chiropractor X-ray room with a digital X-ray machine.

What is a digital x-ray?

More than six million Americans travel in passenger vehicles each day, however, more than two million of these people experience an auto injury on roadways in the United States due to car accidents.

Whether you are deemed at fault or not after a car accident, you should see a specialist for x-ray services, as many injuries, such as whiplash, back injuries, and some head injuries, do not present immediate signs or symptoms.

Since its discovery in 1895, traditional x-ray services have been used to diagnose many health problems and injuries. Traditional x-rays use electromagnetic radiation with energy that is high enough to pass through the human body. With the use of standard x-ray detectors and an energy source, traditional x-rays produced images with a camera and film.

Though a similar concept, digital x-rays are a bit different. A digital x-ray is similar to a modern digital camera. Though it still uses standard x-ray detectors, radiation, and an energy source, there is no need for expensive film.

Digital x-rays have sensors that are connected to an electronic source and are immediately transmitted to a computer or digital source rather than a film allowing for quicker, clearer, and more accurate images.

During a patient examination, the testing administrator will strategically place you between an energy source and an x-ray detector plate. You may be asked to don a lead gown, apron, or blanket to protect surrounding tissues from radiation exposure — though digital x-rays emit far less radiation than traditional x-rays.

How are digital x-rays used for chiropractic care?

Chiropractors are board-certified medical professionals that specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders involving the musculoskeletal system including the bones, cartilage, connective tissue, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. With more than 3 billion x-rays performed worldwide, the advanced technology of digital x-rays allows your chiropractor to quickly assess an area of concern to determine the need for treatment.

A digital x-ray produces clear, concise images of a targeted area where you may be experiencing pain or other symptoms. Unlike traditional x-rays, a digital x-ray can be enhanced or zoomed into without affecting the quality of the image.

When it comes to treating musculoskeletal disorders and injuries – timing is crucial. Rather than waiting for a film to be sent off, developed, and returned to your doctor for evaluation in hopes of having a clear image, a digital x-ray allows immediate, easy-to-see results.

X-rays allow your chiropractor to accurately monitor a spinal deformity to better understand treatment and alignment needs, diagnose underlying problems that cause other conditions, like arthritis or premature degeneration, assess spinal alignment and proper posture, and help to diagnose traumatic injuries that may have been missed by others.

East Vancouver Accident Care Chiropractic X-ray room.

South Salem Accident Care Chiropractic X-ray machine.

What are the benefits of a digital x-ray for chiropractic care?

Any form of x-ray service, whether traditional, old-school film x-rays or digital x-rays, is crucial in assessing, diagnosing, and developing a treatment plan for many injuries. With the advanced technology offered, digital x-rays allow technicians to produce clearer images that are immediately ready to view by a licensed professional and reported to the chiropractor.

Chiropractic care utilizes digital x-rays for patients experiencing aches, pains, and other symptoms, whether the cause is known or not. The musculoskeletal system is an intricate system responsible for providing the framework of our body, so x-rays are essential tools to identify and treat conditions that may affect it.

Benefits of utilizing digital x-rays for chiropractic care include:

Clear, concise, high-quality images that can be easily manipulated to highlight specific areas of concern, adjust the brightness, magnify a certain area, and enhance outlines without altering the quality of the image.

Less radiation exposure than traditional x-rays.

Digital x-rays taken by your chiropractic team are portable and can be easily shared if further specialties like surgery may be required.

Immediate results are available as these images are transferred to an electronic source like a computer or tablet.

With cars as the leading mode of transportation, it is no wonder more than two million people in the United States fall victim to car accidents. Though automotive accidents produce a variety of injuries, symptoms may not be present at the time of impact.

Injuries like whiplash, head injuries, or fractures may take days or weeks to produce symptoms. However, a licensed chiropractor can quickly and accurately diagnose the injury with digital x-rays.

What is the process of x-rays at Accident Care Chiropractic?

At Accident Care Chiropractic, we offer a variety of services relating to chiropractic care and the musculoskeletal system, including adjustments, therapy, and digital x-rays. We offer 16 locations, many of which include in-house digital x-ray services that are covered by most insurance providers.

During your initial visit with Accident Care Chiropractic, the chiropractor assigned to your team will have you detail your pertinent past medical history, current medical conditions that are being actively treated, what medication you are currently prescribed, and will note the symptoms you are experiencing.

Every patient and every condition is different, and not all injuries, whether work injury, personal injury, or auto injury, will necessitate x-rays for a chiropractic diagnosis or formulation of an appropriate treatment plan. However, there may be times when our chiropractor will request x-rays after the initial consultation.

When needed, digital x-rays are ordered through our in-house clinic and read by licensed professionals to further assess the area of concern. These images are immediately available to your chiropractor who will examine the images, magnify them as needed, and formulate an individualized treatment plan based on the findings.

The importance of getting x-rays after a car accident

Have you recently been involved in a traumatic car accident? During the adrenaline rush following the accident, you may not have felt pain that would indicate the need for medical attention. However, days or weeks later, you may have discovered you are having concerns.

Injuries to the musculoskeletal system, though traumatic, do not always present with symptoms immediately. Though treatment is necessary, a closed head injury from your brain bouncing off of your skull, an incomplete break, or whiplash injuries can take time to become apparent. That’s why, it is often advised to get x-rays following a car accident.

How can Accident Care Chiropractic help?

With 16 clinics conveniently located throughout the Oregon and Washington area, Accident Care Chiropractic can help more people suffering musculoskeletal injuries related to car accidents or other traumatic injuries. Through digital x-ray services offered in-house, our experts can obtain a clearer, more detailed view of the affected area that is causing painful symptoms or affecting your daily life.

Visit Accident Care Chiropractic for X-Rays

If you were involved in a car accident, whether new or old, you may be suffering from injuries undetectable to the human eye. The team at Accident Care Chiropractic works to quickly diagnose injuries like herniated discs, spinal misalignment, and whiplash injuries to provide individualized treatment plans.

Do not suffer another day, call now to schedule an appointment.