What should you know about MRI of the musculoskeletal system?

Musculoskeletal MRI is tailored to a body region, such as the knee, shoulder, hip, wrist, ankle or spine. It can help investigate pain, swelling, reduced movement, an injury or a suspected change in soft tissue and bone marrow. Different coils and image sequences are selected for the area being examined. MRI findings need context: a visible change may be old, mild or unrelated to the symptom that prompted the referral. The clinician combines the report with your movement pattern, strength, sensation, injury history and other tests.

Before the appointment, tell the imaging team about implanted metal or electronic devices, metal fragments, prior surgery, kidney disease, allergies and possible pregnancy. Follow instructions about clothing, jewellery and contrast. The scanner makes loud sounds, and staying still is central to clear images. If you have pain or claustrophobia, discuss this ahead of time so positioning and communication can be planned. A [3T MRI Scanner](/technology/3t-mri-scanner/) is one available MRI technology; the requested body region and clinical question determine the protocol.

Do not wait for routine imaging when an injury causes deformity, sudden loss of function, severe swelling or a cold, numb limb. Seek urgent assessment for a hot swollen joint with fever, or for new weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the groin with back symptoms. The urgency comes from the symptom pattern, not from the availability of an MRI.

Ask which body region and tissue are being assessed, whether another test could answer the question, whether contrast is planned, and when the result will be discussed. Ask which changes would alter rehabilitation or other treatment.