There is a natural flow to how a patient’s anatomy should move when the body is aligned and functioning properly without chronic pain. With the help of the digital motion X-ray (DMX) technique, conditions causing pain can be assessed dynamically, rather than on static film. By seeing the bones in motion, DMX detects abnormal and excessive movement. Traditional X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans do not determine this abnormal motion as they are two-dimensional representations of the skeletal structure without the factors of time and movement.
For example, when the body undergoes trauma, such as whiplash caused by a car accident, concussion, or neck injury, the digital motion X-ray technique is useful for determining and pinpointing the root cause of the issue that is causing the chronic pain.
When the ligamentous part of a joint is damaged, weakness, injury, and pain may result. Bone spurs may form around improperly functioning ligaments holding muscle and bone together. This ligament damage is usually detected by pain, joint swelling, muscle spasms around the joint, and bone spur formation over the longer term. Often, surgery is used to remove bone spurs, and cortisone shots to reduce the swelling. However, unless the root cause of the issue is addressed, it is difficult to achieve total relief.
A DMX scan (also referred to in medical journals as videofluoroscopy or cineradiography) is the number one way to document joint instability and is not an experimental procedure. Spinal instability, peripheral joint instabilities, and conditions where chiropractic care may be an option instead of surgery, are all valid reasons for receiving a DMX scan. In some cases, after viewing the results of a DMX scan, physicians will recommend against surgery.