You might expect to take an X-ray when you visit an emergency room for a broken bone or go to a routine dental exam. Chiropractors also use the advanced diagnostic imaging to better serve their patients. As doctors that focus on muscles, joints, and tissues, chiropractors use X-ray technology to get a closer look at the body areas they treat. If you have a chiropractic health visit coming up, here are a few ways that your provider might use an on-site X-ray. 

3 Reasons Why a Chiropractor Uses On-Site X-Rays

1. Discover Causes Behind Symptoms

Chiropractors provide treatment to relieve a wide range of symptoms, including chronic back pain, stiff necks, headaches, insomnia, and nausea. But to treat these complaints, your provider must first identify what’s causing them.

Chiropractors use X-rays to get a close look at what they can’t see through a physical exam, and, in turn, pinpoint underlying causes of symptoms. For example, back pain may stem from a pinched nerve, while nausea may be a side effect of spinal misalignment. Once your doctor has made an accurate diagnosis using medical imaging, they will tailor treatments to address the root cause behind your condition.

2. Fine-Tune Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractors will often provide adjustments to carefully manipulate the spine and correct subluxations—areas where vertebral joints are misaligned. In some cases, adjustments can be performed through physical exam alone. However, if your symptoms might be related to bulging or herniated discs, pinched nerves, or tissue injuries, X-rays may be necessary to figure out how to best adjust the spine.

3. Observe Recovery

If you’re dealing with a serious injury or a chronic condition, such as arthritis, your recovery will likely require several visits to a chiropractor. Throughout these sessions, your provider will monitor your body’s healing and adjust treatment to improve results along the way. In addition to reviewing your symptoms in-person, on-site X-rays can be used to track your progress and refine your recovery plan.

Under the care of Jack Harrison, DC, at North Pole Chiropractic, you’ll receive an in-depth diagnosis to pinpoint the source of your symptoms as well as inform treatment decisions. Backed with on-site X-rays, Dr. Harrison will quickly and accurately diagnose your condition and the full extent of injuries, including those resulting from workplace accidents or auto collisions. Through adjustments, massage therapy, and other natural treatments, this chiropractor will help restore your body to provide long-lasting relief. To learn more about these holistic services, visit the chiropractic health clinic online. For appointments, call (907) 488-1885.