Benefits of Digital Motion X-Ray for ACL in Charleston SC

After a knee injury, you may feel pain when you move, and the pain may fail to go away. Your physical therapist may perform a typical X-ray to know where the injured tissues, bones, and muscles are within your knee. As soon as the doctor discovers the issue, he or she will consult with you before taking any further steps to address the problem.

By doing a digital motion X-ray, also called DMX, your doctor can effectively assess the problem. Typical X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs are done when you are motionless and may not pinpoint the primary cause of the persistent pain. A DMX can see your bones in motion and pick up the issue that is triggering your pain as well as other symptoms of unsteadiness in your knee joints.

So, What Exactly Is a Digital Motion X-Ray?

A digital motion X-ray is a remarkable device for seeing why you are experiencing pain. More importantly, DMX helps you and your doctor figure out the best therapy plan. The DMX is a moving picture of a person’s bones when he or she is in motion.

The X-ray produces images in real-time as the person moves. It is different from a standard X-ray which is usually static. To help you understand the difference better, imagine that a standard motionless X-ray is like a family photo while a DMX is a video of how members of your family behave.

What Is Anterior Cruciate Ligament?

The anterior cruciate ligament or ACL is one of the main ligaments that keep your knee stable. The ACL connects your shinbone at the knee to your thighbone and controls the back-and-forth movement of your knee. The majority of ACL injuries happen when playing sports such as football, tennis, basketball, and skiing. An ACL injury causes your knee to swell, making it painful and unstable.

Benefits of DMX for Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)

Here are reasons why a DMX can help detect and treat your ACL injury more effectively.

A DMX is taken while you are in motion, so it can show your doctor both signs of your injuries and the location of the wounded ligaments. It does so by allowing your doctor to see the source of your pain as you move in real-time.
A DMX captures more frames per second compared to a standard X-ray, making its images clearer and giving a better view of compression fractures.
The DMX can also show how you are getting on with your healing process over time as you continue to receive treatment for your ACL injury.
A DMX is economical compared to traditional X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. The ability of the digital motion X-ray to accurately diagnose your injuries can save you money in general, as well as time and suffering.

To know more about the benefits of digital motion X-rays for ACL, visit Advanced Spinal Care at our office in Charleston, South Carolina. You can also call 843-350-5022 to book an appointment today.