If your physician has requested that you have a positional or weightbearing MRI exam, most likely they are looking for a condition that may not visible when you are examined on a traditional MRI scanner where you lie down. Positional and weight-bearing MRI exams are typically used to evaluate for spine and joint disorders, and some disorders, like pelvic floor dysfunction and related issues.
First image above is a high-field MRI image of a patient's neck or cervical spinal region. The Open Upright MRI (second image) with the same patient in seated extension (bending the neck back) shows cervical stenosis, or a narrowing, along the spinal cord.
Below are a few different ways you may be positioned in an Open Upright MRI scanner. The majority of exams are done in the seated position. Contact us at 605.444.8600 if you have questions about your exam.
