Which method can help reduce patient motion when using automatic exposure control (AEC) while maintaining proper receptor exposure?

Increasing milliamperage (mA) is an effective method for reducing patient motion during imaging while also maintaining proper receptor exposure. When the mA is increased, the exposure time required to obtain the desired image quality is decreased. This shorter exposure time is crucial because it minimizes the duration during which the patient must remain still, which directly correlates to reduced motion blur in the images.

Motion blur can compromise the quality of the diagnostic images, leading to the need for repeat exams which could expose the patient to unnecessary radiation. By maximizing the milliamperage, you increase the photon output of the x-ray tube, achieving the necessary receptor exposure more quickly. This helps in capturing clear images even if the patient moves slightly during the procedure.

The other options have different implications for the imaging process. Decreasing kilovoltage peak (kVp) would lower the penetrating power of the resulting x-rays, potentially requiring longer exposure times and thereby increasing the risk of motion blur. Increasing the back-up timer could lead to longer wait times for the exposure to be completed, again increasing the potential for motion artifacts. Decreasing the density setting would lower overall exposure to the receptor, which could result in an underexposed image and potentially require even longer exposure times to compensate