Is it safe for my child to get X-rays?

There are speculations regarding if X-rays are safe for children or not. The easiest and safest way to get an imaging test is to do a X-ray. This type of test has been used for many decades. Other ways to view the spine would be much more intrusive like making incisions and that would be more harmful then if you were to do a quick image test.

Chiropractors are healthcare professionals that need to use X-rays to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal issues, primarily through manual adjustments and manipulations of the spine. Now it has been a topic of debate and concern within the medical community on if X-rays for children should be allowed or not.

 

 

Some believe that is bad to do X-rays for children.  They believe it is harmful for such a young child and aren’t needed in Chiropractic health. X-rays are known as radiographs, use ionizing radiation to create images of the inside of the body. They can provide valuable information about bone structure, alignment, and potential issues in the spine or other skeletal areas. X-rays are typically taken at the beginning of your treatment and then at the end to show the difference in results.

When is comes to children, the use of X-rays in Chiropractic Care is a subject of ethical and safety concerns. Children’s bodies are more sensitive to radiation then an adult is. As a result many medical organizations including the American Chiropractic Association, recommend caution when using X-rays on children.

Their is a risk just like their is a risk for everything that you do.

Radiation is in many things not just x-rays and its much higher in your daily life then it will be in our X-ray machine. Back in the day X-ray machines were harmful to everyone but with innovation we have don’t need to worry about getting a really harmful dose of radiation.

The kinds of amazing advancements that we have had in our machines are a digital X-ray panel that has a blue-tooth panel that catches the X-ray digitally and wifi’s it back to my computer allowing it to avoid more radiation.

The amount of radiation that you get from just living at altitude alone is far wider then you think and a single X-ray will never amount to that. Now what kinds of X-rays would my child get?

The most commonly used X-rays for Children are:

• Spinal X-rays: These images focus on the spine and are often used to assess the spinal alignment. Curvature, or potential issues with vertebral alignment.
• Joint X-rays: These images may be taken to assess the alignment and health of specific joints. Especially if a child has musculoskeletal complaints.
• Skeletal surveys: In some cases, chiropractors might order a series of X-rays to evaluate the overall bone health. and alignment of a Childs skeletal system.

      

X-rays are forms of radiation, and it’s understandable if you are uncomfortable exposing your child to radiation. However, radiation is around us all the time. Every day, we take in small amounts of radiation from the sun and other sources.

What’s the main risk of X-rays?

The main risk of X-ray radiation exposure is developing cancer later in life. This is really only common among children that get lots of X-rays and CT scans. For most children, radiation exposure probably only raises their risk of cancer a very small amount, if at all. Plus, the risks of not having an X-ray when needed are much greater than any small risk of the X-ray itself. If you are to wait and not fix the problem now then the amount of times your child could have avoided possible radiation in X-rays would be much greater. The amount of radiation that you or your child will experiencing is minuscule to the amount that you get in everyday life from many other sources.

In conclusion the best way to get a clear image of the problem is to do an X-ray. You can get quick results and start your plan of action with your chiropractor. The benefits of an X-ray include:

• Detailed Assessment: X-rays can provide detailed images of the spine and skeletal structure. Allowing chiropractors to assess the alignment of vertebrae, Identify potential misalignments (subluxations), and understand the overall condition of the spine.
• Diagnosis: X-rays can help chiropractors diagnose certain conditions or abnormalities.  Such as fractures, degenerative changes, or structural issues, that might not be visible through physical examination alone.
• Treatment Planning: In cases where they’re re complex or severe spinal issues. X-rays might help chiropractors develop a more precise and tailored treatment plan.
• Monitoring Progress: X-rays taken before and after chiropractic treatment can be used to monitor progress. This can changed in spinal alignment over time.
• Patient Education: Visualizing X-ray images can help patients better understand their condition and the proposed treatment plan.

If you are inquiring about your child getting Chiropractic care. Give us a call at 720-593-9796 or read more about Chiropractic Care for Children Click Here!