Back-to-school season brings new routines, practices, games and tournaments. It can also bring unexpected injuries. When your young athlete is sidelined, knowing what to do next can make the experience feel more manageable.
Here are five things parents should know about MRI and youth sports this fall:
1. Not every sports injury is “just a sprain.”
Young athletes can experience sprains, strains, ligament or stress injuries, especially in sports like soccer and football. If your child’s injury isn’t improving, pain persists, or their physician refers them for an MRI, imaging can give the care team clearer information about what’s happening.
Shields Health helps families access high-quality MRI imaging so physicians have the detailed images they need to determine the next step in care.
2. MRI does not use radiation like X-rays or CT scans.
One of the most common questions parents have about MRI is whether it uses radiation. Unlike an X-ray or CT scan, MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the body. It does not use ionizing radiation.
Knowing what to expect can make an unfamiliar experience feel less intimidating. Taking time to explain the exam in an age-appropriate way may also help your child feel more comfortable and prepared.
3. MRI can help physicians evaluate injuries that are not always visible from the outside.
A child may be walking, talking and saying they feel fine while an injury is still causing pain. MRI provides detailed images of soft tissue and other structures that may be involved in sports injuries, including injuries affecting the knee, shoulder, hip, elbow and ankle.
Whether an MRI is appropriate is a decision for your child’s healthcare provider. The goal is not simply to obtain a scan. It is to give the care team information that can help them better understand the injury and determine the appropriate next steps.
4. Timely access can help keep care moving forward.
When your child is injured, your family’s schedule can change quickly. Practices, games, and other commitments may need to be rearranged while you seek answers and plan for recovery. Eager players also want to return to play as soon as possible.
Timely MRI appointments can help keep the diagnostic process moving to make that happen. At Shields, convenient scheduling and accessible locations help families obtain the imaging they need without putting everything else on hold.
For Natalie, a mother of two, timely access made a difference:
“Shields got me in within 3 hours.”
— Natalie C.
Families also value the factors that shape the overall care experience:
“Priorities when selecting healthcare are the quality of care, location and experience of the provider.”
— Patty, mother of Molly
When an injury occurs, families should not have to spend days or weeks wondering what comes next. More timely answers can help your child’s care team determine the appropriate next steps and support your athlete’s return to the activities they enjoy.
5. AI-powered imaging may help make MRI more efficient.
For children who feel nervous about an MRI, every minute can matter. Shields’ AI-powered imaging technology is designed to help make scans more efficient while maintaining image quality. Depending on the exam, that may mean less time in the scanner and a more comfortable experience for your child.
For a nervous athlete, knowing that the exam may be completed more efficiently can provide reassurance. It may also help your child return sooner to the people and activities that help them feel at ease.
Parents notice the difference that advanced technology can make, too:
“We’ve known about Shields for years and years, and it’s amazing the technology that they’re advancing.”
— Patty, mother of Molly
By combining advanced technology with compassionate, patient-centered care, Shields works to make the MRI experience more comfortable for athletes and their families.
This fall, help your athlete focus on the game—not the injury.
Go where the moms go.
Need an MRI? Find a Shields location near you.
