Digital X-Ray Facility

On-Site Digital X-Ray in Kogarah & Parramatta

At Back to Basics Chiropractic, we provide convenient on-site digital X-ray facilities at our Kogarah and Parramatta clinics.

X-rays can be a useful diagnostic tool when there is a clinical reason to take them. They allow healthcare practitioners to look more closely at bones, joints and certain changes within the spine that cannot always be assessed through a physical examination alone. However, not everyone who visits a chiropractor needs an X-ray. At Back to Basics Chiropractic, our approach is to first understand your symptoms, medical history and the reason for your visit. Your chiropractor will then perform a physical examination and determine whether an X-ray is likely to provide useful information. If an X-ray is clinically appropriate, having digital X-ray facilities available on-site can make the process convenient and efficient.

What Is a Digital X-Ray?

A digital X-ray is a modern form of medical imaging that uses a small amount of ionising radiation to create images of structures inside the body. X-rays are particularly useful for looking at bones and joints. Dense structures such as bones show up clearly, allowing the practitioner to examine their shape, position and general condition. Digital X-rays work in much the same way as traditional X-rays, but instead of using photographic film, the image is captured electronically. This means the image can be viewed on a computer soon after it has been taken. Digital images can also be enlarged and adjusted to help examine particular areas more closely. They can also be securely sent for professional reporting when required.

Why Might My Chiropractor Recommend an X-Ray?

There are many situations where a chiropractor can assess a patient without needing an X-ray. For example, uncomplicated episodes of back or neck pain often do not require immediate imaging. Current healthcare guidelines generally recommend avoiding unnecessary X-rays when the results are unlikely to change how the patient is managed. There are, however, circumstances where an X-ray may provide useful information. Your chiropractor may consider an X-ray if your history or examination suggests there may be a problem involving a bone or joint, or if there are findings that require further investigation.

Some examples include:

• An injury or significant trauma where a fracture may be suspected
• A suspected dislocation
• Unexplained or persistent symptoms with concerning clinical findings
• Significant changes in spinal shape or alignment
• Scoliosis assessment when imaging is clinically appropriate
• Suspected arthritic or degenerative changes
• Possible compression fractures
• Concerns about bone health
• Certain developmental or structural conditions
• Examination findings that suggest further investigation is needed

The important point is that X-rays are taken for a clinical reason rather than simply because someone is visiting a chiropractor.

What Can an X-Ray Show?

X-rays are particularly good at showing bones. Depending on the area being examined, an X-ray may help identify fractures, dislocations, arthritis, degenerative joint changes and certain abnormalities affecting bones and joints. Spinal X-rays can also provide information about the overall shape of the spine and may be useful when assessing conditions such as scoliosis. However, X-rays cannot show everything. Structures such as muscles, nerves, spinal discs, tendons and ligaments are not seen in the same detail on a standard X-ray. If your chiropractor believes that one of these structures needs further investigation, another type of imaging may be more appropriate. For example, you may be referred for an MRI, CT scan, ultrasound or another specialised investigation depending on your symptoms and examination findings. Your chiropractor may also recommend that you see your GP or another healthcare professional if further investigation is required.

Do I Need an X-Ray Before Seeing a Chiropractor?

In most cases, no. You don’t need to organise an X-ray before making an appointment with one of our chiropractors. The best starting point is usually a consultation. During your first appointment, your chiropractor will ask about your symptoms, when they started, what makes them better or worse, previous injuries and your general medical history. A physical examination will then help your chiropractor understand what may be contributing to your problem. If an X-ray is likely to provide useful additional information, your chiropractor can discuss this with you. If you already have recent X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans or other medical imaging, please bring them with you or let your chiropractor know. Previous imaging may provide useful information and could help avoid unnecessary repeat imaging.

Why Don’t We X-Ray Every Patient?

Although X-rays can be extremely useful, they involve exposure to ionising radiation. For this reason, there should be a valid clinical reason for taking an X-ray. Australian radiation protection guidance is based around two important ideas: justification and optimisation. In simple terms, justification means there should be a good reason for performing the X-ray and the expected benefit should outweigh the potential risk. Optimisation means using the amount of radiation necessary to obtain the diagnostic information required while keeping exposure as low as reasonably achievable. This is why our chiropractors consider each patient individually rather than routinely X-raying everyone who comes into the clinic.

Are Digital X-Rays Safe?

Diagnostic X-rays have been used in healthcare for many years and are an important part of modern diagnostic imaging. X-rays do involve ionising radiation, so they should only be performed when clinically justified. Modern X-ray equipment and radiation protection procedures are designed to limit exposure while still obtaining an image that provides the necessary diagnostic information. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) advises that diagnostic X-rays should be performed when the information they provide is useful for the appropriate management of a patient’s condition. Your chiropractor will therefore consider whether an X-ray is appropriate before recommending one.

What If I Am Pregnant?

If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or there is a possibility you could be pregnant, please tell your chiropractor before having an X-ray. This allows your practitioner to consider whether the examination is necessary and whether another type of investigation may be more appropriate. If an X-ray is clinically necessary, the individual circumstances can be considered so that the benefits and potential risks can be appropriately assessed.

Understanding Your X-Ray Results

An X-ray should never be considered on its own. It is important to compare what is seen on an X-ray with your symptoms, medical history and physical examination. This is particularly important because changes can sometimes appear on X-rays even when a person has little or no pain. For example, age-related wear and tear may be visible on an X-ray but may not necessarily be responsible for the symptoms that brought you to the clinic. Your chiropractor will therefore consider the whole clinical picture rather than simply treating an X-ray finding. At back to basics Chiropractic we have all our images sent for professional radiological reporting. A radiologist is a medical specialist trained in interpreting diagnostic images. If anything is identified that requires additional investigation or medical assessment, your chiropractor can discuss the appropriate next steps with you.

Convenient On-Site Digital X-Ray in Kogarah

Our Kogarah chiropractic clinic has convenient access to on-site digital X-ray facilities. This can be particularly helpful when your chiropractor determines during your examination that an X-ray is clinically appropriate. Rather than automatically needing to arrange a separate appointment at another imaging centre, appropriate X-rays may be performed at the clinic. This can make the assessment process simpler and more convenient for patients from Kogarah, the St George area and surrounding suburbs.

On-Site Digital X-Ray in Parramatta

Patients attending our Parramatta chiropractic clinic also have access to on-site digital X-ray facilities in the medical centre that we are part of. If an X-ray is clinically indicated following your consultation and examination, the ability to have appropriate imaging performed at the clinic can make the process more convenient. Our Parramatta clinic provides chiropractic care and access to digital X-ray facilities for patients from Parramatta and surrounding Western Sydney suburbs.

Evidence-Informed Chiropractic Care

At Back to Basics Chiropractic, we believe diagnostic imaging should support good clinical decision-making rather than replace a thorough examination. Our chiropractors begin by listening to your concerns and taking the time to understand your symptoms. Your assessment may include examining movement, joints, muscles and, where appropriate, neurological and orthopaedic testing. If an X-ray is likely to provide useful information, we can discuss why it is being recommended and what we are looking for. Having on-site digital X-ray facilities in both Kogarah and Parramatta means appropriate imaging can be conveniently incorporated into your assessment when clinically required. If you are experiencing back pain, neck pain, joint pain, have suffered an injury or have been advised that you may need an X-ray, contact Back to Basics Chiropractic to arrange an appointment.

Our chiropractors can assess your condition and determine whether an X-ray or another form of investigation may be appropriate.

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