Diagnostic Imaging Services

In addition to the standard computed tomography (CT) scans offered for athletes at the AdventHealth Training Center, we are also the first in Central Florida to have the Curve Beam HiRise™ Weight-Bearing CT Machine. The Curve Beam HiRise™ is a low-dose CT scanner that produces 3D images of upper and lower extremities in a weight-bearing position, allowing our team to assess the alignment of the total extremity in three dimensions. It helps diagnose and examine bunions, flat foot, knee replacement needs, high-ankle sprains, stress fractures and any foot, ankle, knee, hip and pelvic injuries.

Capable of detecting issues more effectively than a traditional X-ray machine, the Curve Beam HiRise™ can:

• Take scans of bones in a functional position (which shows alignment)
• Detect stress fractures and high-ankle sprains (dislocation)
• Inform individual treatment plans and pre-surgical planning

For athletes, this leading-edge imaging technology allows for a more comfortable, accommodating experience, as it:

• Can scan while they are bearing weight on the extremity
• Can reposition to accommodate people who need to sit down
• Has the largest field of view and platform (where the athlete stands for the scan)

In addition to the standard ultrasound scans for athletes at the AdventHealth Training Center, we also offer musculoskeletal, or MSK, ultrasound.

This ultrasound is a painless, non-invasive imaging test that helps us diagnose soft-tissue injuries like sprains and tears of ligaments, muscles and tendons. It’s an advanced imaging technique that allows us to visualize inflammation and fluid build-up around your joints.

The benefits of MSK ultrasound include:

• Comfort: MSK ultrasound exams do not require a tightly enclosed space (like with a CT or MRI), they are highly targeted (which translates to a shorter exam time), there is no prep or contrast required and next-day appointments are available.
• Quality: MSK ultrasound offers the same or in some cases better-quality images than an MRI. At AdventHealth, exams are read by fellowship-trained physicians who specialize in MSK ultrasound.
• Safety: There is no exposure to radiation with ultrasound, and no contrast is required for this exam. Dynamic imaging is also available, which is beneficial to patients who are unable to undergo an MRI due to medical implants or claustrophobia.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic procedure that combines a powerful magnet, radio waves and computer technology to capture detailed images of tissues, muscles, nerves and bones. It’s often used to study soft tissues or organs. Because MRI uses magnetic force and radio waves to create images, there’s no radiation exposure during the procedure.

Through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, we can measure the strength of your bones. This kind of scan can be used to determine if you’re at risk for decreased bone mass or weak or brittle bones. Doctors mainly use DEXA scans to diagnose bone disease and to develop treatment plans that slow its progression.

X-rays are typically the first imaging exam we use when looking for bone-related injuries in athletes. X-rays use invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones and organs. During an X-ray, different parts of the body allow varying amounts of X-ray beams to pass through a bone or tumor, or soft tissues such as blood, skin, fat and muscle.