Fall may mean football season, but it’s also a time for soccer, volleyball, cross-country, and other sports and activities. No matter what sport your child plays—or the athletic activities you enjoy on weekends—there’s always the risk of injury. If you or your child needs sports medicine imaging after a sprain, tear, or fracture, American Health Imaging makes it easy.
Why Medical Imaging is Useful with Sports Medicine
While acute injuries will warrant a prompt visit to the doctor, you don’t have to be competing at the highest level to develop overuse injuries. Children are at high risk for injury even in no-contact sports like golf, as long-term repetitive motions can affect growth plates. Adults can also easily develop injuries, especially with age. If your sports medicine provider, like an orthopedist, suspects damage to your cartilage, ligaments, muscles, or tendons that won’t show up on a regular X-ray, they may recommend more detailed diagnostic imaging to help determine an accurate diagnosis and establish a treatment plan.
The Types of Medical Imaging Used for Sports Medicine Needs
Many common sports injuries can be diagnosed with American Health Imaging’s wide range of advanced medical imaging services, including:
- Arthrogram. This is a type of image that uses a contrast agent to detect problems in your bones and soft tissues and may consist of a CT scan, MRI, and/or X-ray merged together.
- CT scan. This imaging technique utilizes low-dose radiation to capture cross-sectional images of your tissue, providing a comprehensive view, and can be performed with or without the use of a contrast agent.
- Digital X-ray. Usually used to assess bone damage, this type of X-ray uses less radiation than traditional X-rays.
- MRI scan. Using magnets and radio waves, an MRI provides a detailed picture of your soft tissues. American Health Imaging offers wide-bore and open MRI to accommodate all body sizes and alleviate claustrophobia.
- Myelogram. This specific type of moving X-ray is often used for imaging the spinal cord.
- Ultrasound. This imaging technology utilizes sound waves to visualize soft tissue with minimal radiation exposure.
Get Medical Imaging for Sports Injuries with Fast Results
At American Health Imaging, it’s easy to schedule an appointment for advanced imaging, as we work closely with your provider to ensure a prompt appointment. No insurance? No problem. We offer affordable pricing that is up to 60% less than the cost of imaging at a hospital. And with over 45 locations, many of which offer evening and weekend hours, you won’t need to take too much time out of your busy schedule to take the first step to getting back in the game.
While sport-specific athletic training can often help prevent injuries, injuries still occur. Don’t delay further sports medicine imaging for you or your child’s injury. If you have a doctor’s order for sports medicine imaging, make an appointment today.