Digital Motion X-ray in Dayton, OH
An X-ray that moves when you do
A standard X-ray is a photograph. An MRI is a very detailed photograph. Both are taken while you lie still, and that's exactly their limitation: some injuries only show themselves when you move. Digital Motion X-ray (DMX) records your spine in real time, thirty X-ray frames per second, while you turn, bend, and nod. Dr. Poelking watches your vertebrae move the way they actually move, and sees what a still image never could.
When your scans look normal, but your pain is real
This is the situation DMX was built for. You've had the X-ray. Maybe you've had the MRI. Everything comes back "unremarkable," and yet your neck or back still hurts every day. The missing piece is often ligament damage: the ligaments that hold your vertebrae in line don't show their injury in a still photo, because at rest, everything sits roughly where it should. Put the spine in motion and the damage becomes visible: vertebrae sliding where they should hold, joints gapping where they should stay closed. DMX shows instability directly instead of asking you to live with "we can't find anything."
What DMX helps us find
Ligament injuries from whiplash and car accidents, including damage to the ligaments that stabilize the upper neck
Spinal instability that appears only in certain positions or movements
The reason chronic neck or back pain persists after other treatments failed
Objective documentation of an injury, which matters if your pain follows an accident and there's an insurance claim or legal case involved
What DMX helps us find
The study takes a few minutes. You stand in front of the DMX system and move through a series of guided motions: nodding, turning, bending. The system records continuously at a low radiation dose while two cameras capture both the internal structures and your external movement, frame by frame. There's nothing to prepare and nothing invasive about it. Dr. Poelking reviews the motion study with you on screen, so you can see what he sees.
Why this changes your treatment
A diagnosis you can see is a treatment plan you can trust. If your instability comes from ligament damage, that calls for a different plan than a disc problem does, and DMX paired with a thorough exam tells us which one you have. It's the same principle behind everything we do here: treat the real problem, not a guess.
Ready for an answer instead of a shrug?
Book your free consultation today. Same-week appointments are often available.
Call: (937) 299-2900
Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–6:00 PM · Fri 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
Common questions about Digital Motion X-ray
Is DMX safe? How much radiation is involved? DMX uses a low-dose imaging system. The study is brief, and the dose is kept as low as reasonably possible. If you have concerns about radiation exposure, bring them to your consultation, and Dr. Poelking will walk you through it honestly.
Will my insurance cover it? It depends on your plan. Bring your insurance information to your first visit and our team will check your benefits before you commit to anything.
Do I need a referral? No. Book directly.
I was in a car accident. Should I get a DMX study? If you have lingering neck or back pain after an accident, especially if standard imaging came back normal, DMX is worth discussing. It's one of the few ways to objectively document ligament injuries, both for your treatment and for any claim related to the accident.