Common Hospital Imaging For Athletes

Hospital Imaging Guide for Athletes

Sports are fun and an excellent way to get and stay fit. However, as every athlete knows, injuries can happen in training or competition. The most common types are musculoskeletal damage, such as sprains, strains and broken bones.

The good news is that imaging procedures help doctors accurately diagnose and treat sports injuries. For example, a sports injury MRI (magnetic resonance imaging scan) can provide vital information about the damage if you hurt your knee.

This article explains the role of imaging in helping athletes recover from injuries and get back to the sports they love.

Common Sports Injuries Requiring Hospital Imaging

You can minimize your risk of sports injuries by using proper warm-up and cool-down practices, wearing appropriate gear and using the proper techniques for the activity. Still, injuries are, to some degree, outside your control.

Sports injuries are divided into two main categories: bone and soft tissue damage.

Bone injuries

The most common bone injuries are:

• Fractures (broken bones). These can range from stress fractures (tiny cracks caused by overuse) to complete fractures (where a bone breaks into two or more separate pieces).
• Joint dislocations. A dislocation occurs when bones that meet at a joint are forced out of their normal position.

Soft tissue injuries

There are several types of soft tissue injuries, including:

• Muscle tears (strains). Strains occur when a muscle or tendon (a thick fibrous cord that connects muscles to bones) stretches too far and tears partially or completely.
• Ligament sprains. Sprains are excessive stretching or tearing of ligaments, which are fibrous bands of connective tissue.
• Tendonitis (inflammation of a tendon). Tendonitis develops when tendons become inflamed from a sudden or repetitive use injury.
• Cartilage injuries. This damage affects the flexible connective tissue that functions as a shock absorber between bones in joints.

These issues can vary in severity but typically cause pain and require a pause in activity until the injury heals.

Hospital Imaging Techniques Used for Athletes

If you get hurt while working out or competing, you might wonder where to get an MRI for sports injuries. You can find healthcare providers diagnosing sports injuries using X-rays, MRIs or other procedures in various settings. However, many athletes find that the most comprehensive sports injury MRIs and other scans are done in hospitals.

Hospitals often have more resources for capturing and analyzing images, including the most advanced technology for performing procedures like:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

This highly sophisticated scan uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to generate detailed 3D images of an injured area.

Computed tomography (CT scan)

This technology is often the best option for capturing detailed images of fractures or deep injuries.

Ultrasound (US)

Doctors use ultrasound to assess more superficial injuries, including soft tissue damage, joint inflammation, tendonitis and strains.

Benefits of Hospital Imaging for Athletes

Medical imaging — like an MRI for a sports injury — enables doctors to assess damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments and other tissues and structures. It also allows them to more accurately prescribe treatments. Hospitals are ideal for imaging procedures as they have extensive resources and expertise.

If you’ve been hurt and need a sports injury MRI scan or other imaging, Baptist Health can help. Our experts understand the most common amateur and professional sports injuries that require MRIs or other procedures and can capture the necessary images.

For example, if your physician wants an MRI assessment for a sports-related knee injury, we can perform the procedure and provide detailed scans.