Diagnostic services

Our Sutton clinic has its own digital X-ray suite for bones and joints. It's used for new and existing chiropractic and osteopathy patients, and for patients referred to us by other clinics.

Who can order an X-ray?

X-rays can only be requested by an IRMER-trained professional. All of our practitioners are IRMER trained, so we'll only take X-rays after a consultation, and only if your practitioner decides they're clinically needed. If you're not one of our patients, you'll need a referral from your own qualified practitioner.

What happens on the day

Most X-rays take around 15 minutes, depending on the area being looked at. You'll stand against a panel with that part of your body between the panel and the X-ray source, and the exposure itself lasts only a fraction of a second. Because the system is digital, your practitioner can look at the images straight away.

If you are or might be pregnant, please tell your practitioner before your X-ray.

X-ray prices are listed on our Fees page.

We offer a free forearm bone density scan at our Sutton clinic. It's a quick check on the strength of your bones, and can help show whether you're at higher risk of a fracture.

What is osteoporosis?

Inside, healthy bone has a honeycomb-like structure. With osteoporosis that structure thins out, so bones become weaker and can break after only a small bump or fall. These are known as fragility fractures, and they most often affect the wrist, hip and spine. Fractures in the spine can lead to pain, loss of height and a stooped posture.

About the scan

Our scanner measures the bone in your forearm. It takes about two minutes and is completely comfortable. The radiation dose is very low – less than a tenth of a chest X-ray. You'll get your result straight away, with a copy to take home. Together with your medical and family history, it helps us estimate your risk of a fracture.

Could you be at risk?

A scan is worth considering if:

• a parent had osteoporosis, or broke a bone after a minor fall
• you've broken a bone after a minor fall yourself
• you're older – bone loss speeds up later in life
• you're a woman over 50 – women's bones tend to be smaller, and the menopause speeds up bone loss
• you have a low body weight (a BMI under 19)

To book your free scan, call 020 8661 1613.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a swelling in the aorta, the main blood vessel running through your abdomen. It often causes no symptoms, so screening can pick one up early. The check is a quick, painless ultrasound scan of your tummy.

Call the clinic on 020 8661 1613 to find out more or to book.

A simple urine test is one of the free routine checks your chiropractor or osteopath carries out at your first visit, and from time to time during your care.

It can pick up early signs of problems such as urinary infections, kidney conditions or diabetes – often before you notice anything yourself. It's particularly useful if you have back or abdominal pain, or symptoms such as needing to pass urine often, pain when you do, or blood in your urine.

We'll soon be offering ultrasound scans to check the muscles, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues of the arms and legs. A sonographer moves a small handheld probe over your skin with a little gel, and sound waves build a live picture of the tissue underneath. It's painless and one of the safest forms of imaging.

Please call the clinic for the latest on availability.

If you need an MRI, we can refer you privately. Scans start from £250 and are available at 20 sites in the surrounding area, so you can choose whichever is most convenient for you.

An MRI scanner uses a strong magnet and radio waves – not X-rays – to build detailed pictures of the inside of your body. You lie on a padded bed that slides into the scanner and keep still while the images are taken. It doesn't hurt, although some people find lying still for a while a little uncomfortable.

If your practitioner feels a blood test would help – for example to check your vitamin levels, cholesterol or signs of inflammation – one can be arranged for you privately. Just ask at your appointment.