What to Expect at a Posture and Alignment Assessment?
At ScanAlign, a posture and alignment assessment uses standing, weight-bearing EOS imaging. One scan captures your whole skeleton, from head to feet. You stand naturally while the scan is taken. This shows your muscles, joints and balance exactly as they work in real life. It takes only a few minutes and uses about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray. You do not need a referral.
Key points
- You stand upright for the scan, so your alignment is captured while your body carries its real weight.
- The EOS system images your whole body in one pass. This shows how each area connects to the next.
- Radiation exposure is about 90% less than a standard X-ray, around ten times less.
- You do not need a referral from your doctor. You can book directly as a private patient.
- A specialist reviews your results, which are shared with you and your treating clinician.
What is a posture and alignment assessment?
A posture and alignment assessment is a structured way of looking at how your skeleton is balanced when you stand upright. Standard imaging usually looks at one joint or one part of the spine. A whole-body assessment looks at the entire chain. It runs from your feet and ankles, through your knees, hips, pelvis and spine, up to your head.
At ScanAlign, the assessment uses EOS standing imaging technology. The EOS system takes a full-length image of your skeleton while you stand naturally. This matters because your body behaves very differently when it is upright and bearing weight than when you lie flat on a table.
When you lie down for a normal X-ray, CT or MRI, gravity no longer loads your spine and joints. Your muscles relax. A tilt in your pelvis may flatten out. A curve in your spine may look milder than it really is. A standing scan captures how your body actually holds itself through the day.
How do you know if you need a posture assessment?
A whole-body alignment assessment may help you if you have ongoing symptoms that earlier scans have not fully explained. These are common reasons people come to ScanAlign.
Pain that keeps coming back despite treatment, especially if scans of one area have been normal.
You have had X-rays or MRI scans, but the results did not match the level of pain you feel.
Uneven shoulders, a tilted pelvis, or a feeling that your body leans to one side.
Your surgeon wants whole-body alignment data before a joint replacement or spine operation.
Why does a standing scan show more than a lying-down scan?
A standing scan captures your skeleton under the same forces it faces all day: gravity and muscle load. When you lie flat, those forces are removed. Your body is a connected chain from your feet to your head. A small shift in one area can affect others. For example, if the pelvis tilts forward, your lower back can arch more, your mid-back can round to make up for it, and your neck can push forward. Pain often shows up away from its true cause.
Normal imaging looks at one area at a time. It might show a normal-looking spine but miss that the spine is making up for a problem in the hip or the leg below. The EOS system captures the full picture in one standing image, so these compensation patterns become visible.
When is MRI the better choice? EOS shows bones, joints and alignment clearly. For soft tissue detail such as discs, ligaments or nerves, MRI is usually the better tool. Your specialist will advise which type of imaging suits your situation. In many cases, EOS and MRI work well together.
What happens step by step during the assessment?
The process at ScanAlign is simple. Here is what to expect from start to finish.
You start with a video call, with no obligation. You can join it from home before you plan any travel. A specialist radiographer reviews your history, explains what the scan involves and confirms whether whole-body imaging is suitable for you.
On the day, you come to the clinic in central London. No special preparation is needed. If possible, wear comfortable clothes without metal fastenings. The team will guide you on the day.
You stand naturally inside the EOS unit while the scan is taken. The machine moves around you. It captures your full skeleton from the front and the side in a single pass. The scan itself lasts just a few minutes. The radiation dose is about 90% less than a standard X-ray, around ten times less.
A specialist reviews your images. The report details your alignment from head to feet and points out any imbalances or compensations. You can then share this report with your treating clinician, surgeon or physiotherapist back home to guide your care.
Would you like to find out if an alignment assessment is right for you?
Book a free video consultationWho benefits most from a whole-body alignment assessment?
A standing alignment assessment is most useful for people whose symptoms normal imaging has not fully explained, or who need a broader picture before treatment.
- Long-standing back or spine pain with no clear cause
- Recurring hip pain or a suspected pelvic tilt
- Planning before knee or hip surgery
- Visible posture imbalance that affects daily life
- Follow-up after surgery to check alignment
- A suspected soft tissue injury (disc herniation, ligament tear), where MRI is usually better
- An acute fracture or injury that needs urgent care
- Numbness, weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control. These need urgent medical attention: contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department straight away.
Before you start a treatment, or change the one you are on, it is worth getting a detailed diagnosis. Knowing whether the cause lies in your pelvis, your legs or your spine changes what will actually help.
Frequently asked questions
No. ScanAlign is a private self-pay clinic, so you can book directly without a referral. Many people book themselves after struggling to get answers in other ways.
The scan itself takes just a few minutes. Your full appointment, including positioning and any questions, is a short visit.
Yes. The EOS system uses about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. You can find more detail on the safety and FAQs page.
Comfortable clothes without metal zips, buttons or underwiring are ideal. The team will advise you when you book, and there are changing rooms at the clinic.
The price for patients travelling from abroad is confirmed during the free video consultation, and you can read more on the cost and FAQs page.
Yes, with your consent. Your alignment report and images can be sent directly to your referring clinician, surgeon or physiotherapist.
They answer different questions. EOS is excellent at showing bones, joints and full-body alignment while your body carries its weight. MRI is better for soft tissues like discs, nerves and ligaments. Your clinician may recommend both for a complete picture.
Yes. You stand naturally inside the EOS unit. That is exactly the point. Standing captures how your body balances and compensates under gravity, which lying-down scans cannot show.
The system can image your whole skeleton, from head to feet, in a single pass. This includes the spine, pelvis, hips, knees, ankles and feet, so you can see how all these areas line up with each other at once.
ScanAlign is at 19 Harley Street, London, inside The Harley Street Hospital. The clinic is in central London and is easy to reach by public transport, with several Underground stations nearby.
See the full picture of how your body is aligned
Start with a free video consultation, with no obligation. Discuss your symptoms from home and find out whether a standing alignment assessment is right for you before you plan a trip to London.
Book a free video consultationSources
- Illés, T. and Somoskeöy, S. (2012). The EOS imaging system and its uses in daily orthopaedic practice. International Orthopaedics, 36(7), pp.1327–1331.
- Dubousset, J. et al. (2010). EOS: A new imaging system with low-dose radiation in standing position for spine and bone. Journal of Musculoskeletal Research, 13(1), pp.1–12.
- NHS (2024). Back pain: causes, treatment and when to see a GP. NHS.uk. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/back-pain/
Written by Abbas Dhami (Specialist Diagnostic Radiographer)
This page is general information and not a diagnosis.
ScanAlign is the trading name of CoreMed Solutions Ltd and operates under The Harley Street Hospital's CQC licence.