Muscle, Joint & Tendon MRI
Musculoskeletal (MSK) MRI provides detailed imaging of joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and surrounding soft tissues. These scans are commonly used to investigate pain, sports injuries, instability, swelling, or reduced movement. We offer MRI for any specific joint or muscle group, tailored to your symptoms and clinical needs.
Targeted MRI by region
Joint Imaging
MRI provides high-resolution assessment of joint structures, including cartilage, ligaments, synovium, and bone marrow. It is particularly effective for detecting early degenerative change, inflammation, and internal derangement, offering a comprehensive, non-invasive evaluation without ionising radiation.
Tendon Imaging
MRI enables detailed visualisation of tendons, identifying tendinopathy, partial or full-thickness tears, and surrounding inflammation. It is especially valuable in complex or chronic cases where ultrasound is limited, providing deeper anatomical context and guiding treatment planning.
Muscle Imaging
MRI is highly sensitive for muscle injury, detecting strains, tears, oedema, and subtle structural changes. It supports accurate grading of injury, differentiation from other pathologies, and monitoring of recovery, making it the gold standard for comprehensive muscle assessment.
When Can MRI Help?
An MSK MRI may be recommended when joint or muscle symptoms persist despite rest or initial treatment, or when a more detailed assessment is needed following clinical examination. You may benefit from an MRI if you have:
- Ongoing joint pain
- A recent sports injury
- Swelling or instability
- Reduced movement
- Suspected ligament or tendon damage
- Symptoms not explained by X-ray or ultrasound
MRI provides detailed imaging of the structures within and around a joint, including cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscles and supporting soft tissues. It can identify tears, inflammation, cartilage wear, stress-related bone injury and subtle structural changes that may not be visible on other imaging tests. This level of detail helps clarify the underlying cause of symptoms and supports informed decisions about treatment, rehabilitation or specialist referral.
