X-rays can be helpful in diagnosing and treating back pain relief

X-rays can be helpful in diagnosing and treating back pain relief

Chiropractors are sought after by patients for relief from neck and back pain. When a patient first visits me for chiropractic care, I may take a spinal x-ray of the area of ​​their complaint. This article discusses the history of the relationship between chiropractic and x-rays, as well as the importance of x-rays in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal pain relief.

There is historical evidence that forms of spinal manipulation for back pain have been used for over 5000 years. The modern field of spinal manipulation began in America in 1895 when Daniel David Palmer first successfully began treating patients with spinal adjustments for misalignments. Dr. Palmer soon realized how chiropractic could benefit people with back and neck pain and founded a school to train future chiropractors, which became the Palmer College of Chiropractic.

Interestingly, Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen is also credited with developing the first use of X-rays in 1895. In 1901, Rontgen received the first Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery. The relationship between x-rays and chiropractic continues to this day.

During the five-year doctoral training at a chiropractic educational institute, students receive comprehensive schooling by taking x-rays, reading and evaluating x-rays. Most people know that an x-ray technician must complete a rigorous course of study to learn the profession. In a chiropractic college, students must receive a similar level of guidance. In fact, at the National College of Chiropractic, the school I attended, we were trained by certified x-ray physicists and technicians. After learning the skill of taking x-rays, chiropractic students must learn to read and interpret x-rays.

Chiropractic students have numerous X-ray interpretation courses, covering conditions such as fractures and dislocations, as well as pathologies such as cancer, infections and arthritis. The chiropractic fellowship also focuses on biomechanics, where images are examined solely for segmental misalignments and misalignments, postural distortions, scoliosis, ligamentous instabilities, etc. Leading scientific research journals have confirmed chiropractors' competence in reading and interpreting spinal x-rays.

The decision to x-ray a patient is a clinical decision made by the chiropractor. This decision is a combination of complaint, medical history and examination results.

A research study at the National College of Chiropractic showed the results of a review of all x-ray examinations performed in the 1982 calendar year. The authors of the article stated, "The use of plain film x-rays has long been an integral part of the chiropractic profession. X-ray examinations are a valuable tool in the chiropractor's diagnosis of the patient's condition."

For both the chiropractor and the patient, spinal x-rays provide many benefits to aid in the analysis, diagnosis and treatment of spinal symptoms.

Inspired by James Schofield