What two methods should technologists use to prevent motion on a radiograph?

What two methods should technologists use to prevent motion on a radiograph?

• A. Provide clear instructions to the patient and decrease exposure time
• B. Increase exposure time and tell patient to hold still
• C. Use a higher kVp without motion control
• D. Stabilize with a brace and ignore patient instructions

Answer: (A)

Motion blur blurs anatomy on a radiograph, so preventing motion combines clear patient instructions with a short exposure time. When you explain exactly what the patient needs to do—how to stand, where to look, and when to hold still or breathe gently—you reduce voluntary movement. At the same time, shortening the exposure time minimizes the window during which any movement can blur the image. Together, these steps keep the image sharp enough for accurate interpretation. Other options either don’t address motion effectively or rely on patient behavior that isn’t safe or reliable. Increasing exposure time gives the patient more opportunity to move and blur the image. Simply telling the patient to hold still is helpful but not as effective as also shortening the exposure. Using a higher kVp without motion control can degrade image quality and still doesn’t prevent motion. Stabilizing with a brace while ignoring patient instructions isn’t appropriate or effective. The best combo is clear instructions plus a shorter exposure time.

Motion blur blurs anatomy on a radiograph, so preventing motion combines clear patient instructions with a short exposure time. When you explain exactly what the patient needs to do—how to stand, where to look, and when to hold still or breathe gently—you reduce voluntary movement. At the same time, shortening the exposure time minimizes the window during which any movement can blur the image. Together, these steps keep the image sharp enough for accurate interpretation.

Other options either don’t address motion effectively or rely on patient behavior that isn’t safe or reliable. Increasing exposure time gives the patient more opportunity to move and blur the image. Simply telling the patient to hold still is helpful but not as effective as also shortening the exposure. Using a higher kVp without motion control can degrade image quality and still doesn’t prevent motion. Stabilizing with a brace while ignoring patient instructions isn’t appropriate or effective. The best combo is clear instructions plus a shorter exposure time.