MRI for runners – overuse injuries of the foot and knee
Marathon runners and amateur runners are at high risk of overuse injuries. APERTA offers precise 1T MRI diagnostics.
APERTA Diagnostic Centre, Rzeszów – Poland’s first high-field open 1 Tesla MRI scanner. Ideal for professional athletes who need rapid diagnosis without the stress of claustrophobia.
The most common conditions and recommended MRI examinations
The list below includes common conditions in runners and the recommended MRI protocols for diagnosis.
Running - MRI
Stress fracture of the tibia/foot bones
The most common serious injury in runners – microfractures in the tibia and navicular bone.
Recommended MRI scans:- MRI of the tibia and foot
- STIR sequences of the entire bone
- T1 for confirmation
Running – MRI
Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS)
Lateral knee pain in long-distance runners.
Recommended MRI scans:- MRI of the knee with lateral focus
- T2 fat-saturated axial
- PD fat-saturated coronal
Running - MRI
Achilles tendinopathy
Differentiation between insertional and midsubstance.
Recommended MRI examinations:- Achilles MRI
- T2 fat-saturated sagittal and axial
- Measurement of tendon thickness
Running - MRI
Plantar fasciitis
MRI is recommended if there is no response to conservative treatment.
Recommended MRI scans:- MRI of the foot and heel
- T2 fat-saturated sagittal
- STIR for oedema
Running - MRI
Runner’s knee (chondromalacia patellae)
Patellofemoral pain syndrome – damage to the patellar cartilage.
Recommended MRI scans:- Knee MRI
- High-resolution axial PD fat-saturated
- T2 mapping sequences
Why is the 1T open MRI suitable for athletes?
- No width restrictions – bodybuilders, basketball players and hockey players of large build can be examined without any problems
- Comfortable position – the absence of a tunnel reduces post-injury stress
- Short scan time – most protocols take 15–25 minutes
- Specialist report – radiologist with experience in sports medicine
- MR-arthro option – intra-articular contrast for precise diagnosis
Are you a professional or amateur athlete?
Book an MRI scan without waiting in National Health Service queues. Results within 24–48 hours.
Book an MRI for an athlete ->
