Infrared thermography is a valuable tool used in chiropractic care to assess the function of the nervous system by identifying areas of inflammation or dysfunction. Dr. Lynn has already covered why we use infrared thermography before and after your adjustments at OWL Chiropractic in her recent blog post: Why Are Thermography Scans Essential To Us? So today, I will cover factors that might impact your scan and give us an inaccurate reading.
To ensure the accuracy of your infrared thermography scan, minimizing factors that could influence the temperature readings is crucial. Several factors, both obvious and subtle, can impact the scan results. By understanding these factors, we can obtain a more reliable assessment of your body's heat patterns.
Environmental Conditions: External factors such as temperature, humidity, and air currents can affect the accuracy of infrared thermography scans. We find that people who walk to the office (usually 10+ minutes extended outside) in extreme weather will have their scan impacted. They can usually get a more accurate scan if they hang out in the office for a little and let their body acclimate.
Seat Heaters: As the weather turns cooler, we often find ourselves reminding patients that using a seat heater on the way to the office will dramatically impact their scans. We are very pro seat heaters after your adjustment but refrain from using them before.
Medications: Certain medications can influence the body's temperature regulation and potentially impact the results of an infrared thermography scan. If you have been on medication for a long period of time, your scans are already accounting for this. Be sure to disclose any recent changes to your medications before your adjustment. This includes even taking over-the-counter NSAIDs (advil, tylenol, etc.) right before your appointment.
Medical Conditions: Underlying medical conditions can influence the body's heat patterns. Much like with medications, if you’ve had an ongoing condition then your scans have been accounting for this already. It is most important to keep your chiropractor up to date on any changes to your health, whether or not it seems Chiropractic related.
Recent Activities: Strenuous exercise, hot baths, ice baths, or saunas can impact your body temperature and may affect the accuracy of the scan. This includes washing your hair if you do not intend to dry it right afterward; wet hair will give us a big cold spot in the neck. It is advisable to avoid these activities a few hours before your adjustment.
Lifestyle Factors: Remember, the function of the nervous system can be impacted by things like stress, job changes, and diet. So, your scan can be impacted by changes in these as well. So make sure you update your Chiropractor about any major changes in your life before your adjustment.
By understanding these factors and working closely with your chiropractor, you can maximize the benefits of infrared thermography and gain valuable insights into your overall health and well-being.
At OWL Chiropractic, we employ infrared thermography as a valuable diagnostic tool to tailor our care plans to your specific needs. We recognize that life can be unpredictable, and it may not always be possible to avoid factors that could influence your scan results.
If your scan deviates significantly from previous readings, we may inquire about recent changes in your lifestyle or health that could be contributing to the variation. While we strive for accurate scan results, it's equally important to understand any potential factors that might be affecting the readings.
If necessary, we can rely on alternative assessments, such as leg checks and muscle tests, to evaluate your nervous system's function.
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