There is no special preparation required for most of the skeletal x-rays. Upon arrival, you may be asked to put on a gown before your examination. You will also be asked to remove jewelry, eyeglasses, and any metal objects that could show up on the images and overlap important findings. Prior to the procedure, women should always inform their physician or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they might be pregnant.

The technologist will position patient on the examination table, with the help of sandbags or pillows if necessary. The technologist then steps behind a radiation barrier and instructs the patient to hold his breath and keep for the duration of the procedure. The technologist then repositions the patient for another view if necessary, and the process is repeated.

X-ray imaging itself is painless. To get a clear image of an injury, the patient may be asked to hold an uncomfortable position for a short time. Any movement could blur the image and make it necessary to repeat the procedure to get a useful, clear picture.

Position is a term used in the x-ray field to determine how the x-ray will be performed. Mainly there are four basic views for x-ray to be taken:

Antero-Posterior (AP) In which the x-ray passes from the front part that is being examined to the back.	Lateral position (LAT) Lateral knee joint The x-ray passes through the part being examined from the side.
Oblique position Oblique - hip joint In this position the x-ray passes through the body part with an angle (the angles used differ from exam to another and from part to part).	Standing position AP-both knees standing In this position, the view will be taken while the patient is standing