Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

What You Need To Know About MRI

Learn how MRI works, who qualifies, and what to expect during your visit.

Open MRI for Foot and Ankle Care

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the fastest and safest non-invasive method to get the clearest pictures of your foot and ankle condition. Since their invention in the late 1970’s, MRI has grown to become an indispensable part of practice for podiatric and orthopedic physicians.

MRI allows us the ability to see inside the body and visualize a structure, determine the extent of injury, and provide focused treatment. It does this all without using X-rays. Instead, MRI uses a magnetic field that absorbs or deflects the electric charge given off by the cells themselves and creates a picture from that deflected charge.

While MRI has universal applications, not everyone qualifies for its use. Those with brain aneurysm clips, metallic foreign bodies in the eye, recent surgery with orthopedic implants, pacemakers, or cochlear implants should not use MRI. Our technologists are trained to determine if MRI will be allowable for use.

If your podiatrist recommends MRI to evaluate your foot or ankle concern, our team will guide you through the screening process and schedule your imaging at a convenient location so you can move forward with a clear diagnosis and focused treatment plan.

Our Open MRI Experience and Process

Bay Area Foot Care has had MRI machines on location in several of our facilities since January 2007. Our MRI machines are open units, so you do not have to lie inside a tube. You comfortably sit in an attached chair and simply place your leg in the machine while the MRI takes its pictures.

We use industry-leading Extremity OPEN MRI machines to offer advanced imaging technology to our patients. Aside from being open machines, these units are much quieter than traditional MRI systems, making the experience more comfortable for patients who may feel anxious about enclosed imaging environments.

The MRI process typically takes around one hour. All of our MRI scans are read by a board-certified musculoskeletal MRI radiologist who provides a report within 24 hours. There is no need to travel to a separate imaging center, and your results stay connected to your care team from start to finish.

Once your report is ready, an appointment will be made with your doctor to review the MRI and discuss treatment based on the findings. Let the doctors at Bay Area Foot Care, using our open MRI, help you find and fix your concerns.