When you visit an x-ray center, a plain x-ray is a relatively quick and painless procedure that usually takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish. However, the amount of time an x-ray takes could be longer depending on a few variables, including the number of parts of the body that need to be examined and the patient’s ability to move around, their general health and their age.
During most x-rays, the area of your body being examined will have to be viewed from different angles in order to get the information your doctor needs to make an accurate diagnosis. This requirement means you may be asked to move into different positions, which may be more difficult for patients with mobility issues and for those in poor health.
For healthy, willing patients, x-ray services can be extremely fast, some taking less than a minute. However, distressed patients needing multiple x-rays of the legs, spine, shoulders and pelvis could take as long as 45 minutes. Individuals with disabilities or young children also tend to take longer during an x-ray examination, especially if they find it difficult to keep still or understand the instructions given by the technologist carrying out the x-ray procedure.