Finding the right tests…
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Finding the right tests…
MRI
Shoulder pain that lingers past a few weeks, or comes with weakness lifting your arm overhead, is a common reason this scan gets ordered. It looks closely at the rotator cuff tendons, the biceps tendon, and the labrum - the rim of cartilage that helps keep the joint stable - soft-tissue structures that X-rays can't show well. Rotator cuff disorders, including tears and impingement, are described as a major cause of shoulder pain in adults past their forties, and this scan often confirms what's actually torn or inflamed before treatment is decided. It also picks up labral tears linked to shoulder instability. Like other MRI, it uses magnets and radio waves rather than X-rays, so no radiation is involved.
This scan images the rotator cuff tendons, biceps tendon, labrum, and surrounding joint structures in your shoulder. It shows rotator cuff tears, tendon inflammation, labral tears, and signs of joint instability, which your doctor combines with your symptoms and exam findings.
A shoulder MRI images the rotator cuff - the group of tendons that move and stabilize the joint - along with the biceps tendon and the labrum, the ring of cartilage around the shoulder socket that helps keep the joint in place.
Rotator cuff disorders, including tears and impingement, are described as a major cause of shoulder pain in adults over 40. When shoulder pain doesn't settle, or comes with weakness raising the arm, this scan helps confirm whether a rotator cuff tear, tendon damage, or inflammation is the cause.
Shoulders that repeatedly slip out of place, or feel unstable during overhead movement, often involve a labral tear - damage to the cartilage rim that normally helps hold the joint together. MRI is well suited to picking up this kind of soft-tissue damage.
- Partial or full-thickness rotator cuff tears - Biceps tendon injury - Labral tears linked to shoulder instability - Degenerative joint changes and impingement
No radiation is involved, since the scan uses magnets and radio waves rather than X-rays.
It images the rotator cuff tendons, the biceps tendon, and the labrum - the cartilage rim around the shoulder socket. These are soft-tissue structures that don't show up clearly on a plain X-ray.
Yes, it's one of the main tools used to check for rotator cuff tears and tendon damage. Your doctor combines the images with your symptoms and a physical exam to reach a diagnosis.
Possibly. Rotator cuff problems are a common cause of shoulder pain in adults over 40 even without a specific injury. Your doctor decides whether imaging is needed based on your symptoms.
No. It uses magnets and radio waves, not X-rays, so there's no radiation exposure.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
Not for a standard shoulder MRI. Contrast is only added if your doctor has a specific reason to request it.
It can show a labral tear or other damage linked to shoulder instability, which is a common cause of repeated dislocation. Your doctor interprets this alongside how often it happens and what triggers it.
The main step is removing metal jewelry, watches, and similar items beforehand. Ask your doctor or the centre about anything specific to you, including implants.