MRI scans for footballers – diagnosis of knee and ankle injuries
Football is the sport with the highest incidence of ligament and meniscus injuries. APERTA performs full knee and ankle MRI scans using a 1T open MRI scanner.
The most common conditions and recommended MRI scans
The list below includes common conditions in footballers and the MRI protocols recommended for diagnosis.
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury
A classic football injury – rotational mechanism. 80% of cases require reconstruction.
Recommended MRI scans:- Standard knee MRI
- PD fat-sat axial + sagittal + coronal
- 3D sequences for surgical planning
Medial meniscus injury
Rotational-flexion mechanism. Often accompanied by ACL injury (O’Donoghue’s triad).
Recommended MRI examinations:- Standard knee MRI
- PD fat-saturated with 3-mm slices
- T2 and T1 sequences
Ankle sprain (ATFL ligament)
The most common football injury in Europe. MRI is recommended for osteochondral damage.
Recommended MRI examinations:- MRI of the ankle joint
- PD fat-saturated in all planes
- STIR for bone oedema
Hamstring strain
Hamstring strain – a common injury during sprinting. Classification: Grade I, II, III.
Recommended MRI scans:- MRI of the thighs with a wide FOV
- STIR coronal and axial
- T2 fat-saturated
Achilles tendon injury
Rupture, particularly in footballers over 30 years of age.
Recommended MRI scans:- MRI of the ankle joint
- T2 fat-saturated sagittal and axial
- 3D sequences for gap measurement
Why is 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 ->
