5 Ways Posture Pictures are Better than X-rays

Posture pictures are a better tool for many purposes than X-rays as a tool for the musculo-skeletal professional. In my personal practice experience, back in the 1980's and 90's my treatment was guided by x-rays far more than it is today, an experience shared by many colleagues who tell me they rely far less on radiographic findings. X-rays are still invaluable to screen for osseous pathology, rule out red flags or observe disc degeneration or other level specific tissue challenges...but MRIs are often a better (albeit expensive) diagnostic tools. On the other hand, Posture Pictures are inexpensive, and better than X-rays in other significant ways as well.

1. Observing Global bio-mechanics of posture, including PostureZone observations: Structural screenings, especially looking at the 4 weing bearing zones of posture, is easier from a whole body gridded image than a specific region seen on an x-ray. If you beliebe posture is important then carefully examining a photo of posture gives you the opportunituy to correalate symptons, exam, palpation and other findings with their overall body mechanics. And tie it all together in a narrative, an explanation of the problem...which creates value for reason #2.
2. Communicating to Patients: I've shown many people the curves and spurs of their spine- early in my career that was how DCs explained to a patient what was wrong. To my frustration, many of them didn't care. Patients then and now wanted to know "Can you help me". Thank about this: When someone sees a photograph of 5 people, who do they look at first...and the hardest? Right- THEMSELVES. People are wired to look at themselves, and are insterested when you narrate the connects between their problem and their body with a Posture Picture analysis and their objective findings. And a report analyszing their posture (easy with modern software) is a reminder to help them understand and retell that narrative, which creates valute for reason #3 and #4.
3. Demonstrating Progress People are engaged and want to see changes when you retake Posture Pictures--at the end of phase of care, or when you compare this year's annual posture picture to prior ones.
4. Documenting Progress for Insurance Carriers and other third parties pre and post Postuer Pictures of a patient with assessment report can show change and demonstrate real value....Even to a skeptical claims examiner.
5. Affordable Expense with no radiation exposure: Posture Pictures only require a camera, a PostureGrid and usually a software. And with research claiming little to weak clinical benefit for many x-rays, insurance guidelines have diminished the value of X-rays in the evidence based (or biased) care communities. While adherents of some techniques strongly disagree, everyone agrees it makes sense to minimize exposure and unnecessary expense, as well as improve patient's understanding of their own body.

The Bottom Line: Posture Pictures create value.