What is the principal means of controlling involuntary motion during radiographic procedures?

The principal means of controlling involuntary motion during radiographic procedures is by using a short exposure time. In radiography, involuntary motion can occur due to a patient's physiological responses, such as heartbeats or peristalsis. When the exposure time is minimized, the likelihood of motion during the capture of an image is significantly reduced. This is because shorter exposure times limit the window in which motion can occur, resulting in clearer, sharper images with less blurring.

In contrast, longer exposure times may inadvertently increase the chances of motion blurring since patients may not be able to remain still for the duration of the exposure. A lower milliampere-seconds (mAs) generally leads to poorer image quality. Although utilizing faster film-speed can also help mitigate motion artifacts, it is the reduction of exposure time that primarily addresses involuntary motions most effectively, making it the most direct method for enhancing image clarity.