The role of MRI in sports medicine

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a multifaceted role in sports medicine, providing an accurate diagnosis, prognostication for return to play, and assessment of healing following injury or surgical intervention. MRI pulse sequences can be optimized to provide superior soft tissue contrast and comprehensively address the concerns of the clinician, physical therapist, and athlete. It may be argued that the most important role of MRI is to distinguish acute injuries from the chronic soft tissue remodeling that occurs in the presence of repetitive microtrauma in the competitive athlete.