The Role of Radiology in the Chiropractic Practice

The trend in the modern chiropractic office is a shift toward fewer chiropractors that own radiographic equipment. While there are multiple reasons for this shift, it is important for the chiropractic physician to understand the importance of radiographs and the evidence-based practice guidelines in the use of imaging procedures in chiropractic. We will explore the importance of radiographic evaluation and the use of imaging to establish treatment protocols, without violating sound clinical decision tools.This course aims to integrate evidence-based principles into clinical decision-making, examining guidelines for appropriate radiographic examinations. Participants will learn to illustrate imaging analysis for pathology and biomechanical assessment, and understand the advantages of digital imaging over analog film.

• •Understand current trends in radiographic equipment ownership in chiropractic practices and the clinical rationale behind these decisions
• •Apply evidence-based guidelines to determine when radiographic imaging is clinically indicated versus contraindicated
• •Analyze radiographic images to identify pathological findings and assess biomechanical abnormalities relevant to treatment planning
• •Compare the clinical advantages and disadvantages of digital imaging technology relative to traditional analog radiography
• •Integrate appropriate imaging procedures into evidence-based clinical decision-making protocols
• •Develop sound clinical reasoning skills to justify radiographic orders and establish treatment protocols based on imaging findings