SaluBrio MRI

Why Weight-Bearing MRI Scan?

Why Weight-Bearing MRI scan?

weight-bearing mri scan | Disc Herniation with nerve compression

Disc Herniation
Compressing Nerve Root

Why do I have more pain or numbness when I stand up and why is a weight-bearing MRI scan better?
The spinal cord and nerves pass from the brain to the finger and toes through bony and soft tissue tube (spinal canal). When you stand the soft tissue discs and ligaments compress and narrow the canal and compress the nerve roots. When you lie down, the discs and ligaments decompress and the pressure is taken off the nerves and your pain improves. A weight-bearing MRI scan (Esaote G-Scan Brio MRI) shows 20-30% more or larger findings than a spine MRI while lying down where the body weight is removed.

If you have pain or numbness when you stand, then insist on MRI when you are standing.


weight-bearing mri scan

Esaote G-Scan Brio
Weight-Bearing MRI

Why is an upright or weight-bearing MRI different than MRI performed lying down?
Conventional MRI examinations are performed while you are lying down without the weight of the body on the parts of your body that produce pain or numbness or instability. A tiltable MRI scan or weight-bearing MRI scan(e.g. Esaote G-Scan Brio MRI) applies body weight to the part of your body that hurts and allows your doctors to see what your tissues look like when you are standing and body weight compresses soft tissues and ligaments are stressed. Conventional (lying down) MRI examinations do not reproduce the conditions that exist when you are standing. The body weight is removed from the discs, nerve root compression may be diminished and pain relieved. The MRI may appear abnormal when standing and normal when lying down.

        It is your MRI… Don’t take it lying down!
weight-bearing mri scan | Esaote G-scan Brio MRI



Is the Esaote G-scan or Brio the only weight-bearing MRI?
No, there are only two weight-bearing MRI scanners currently available. The FONAR MRI scanner was the original weight-bearing MRI scanner and was a novel approach when it was released nearly two decades ago. This technology has been referred to as Upright MRI® and StandUp MRI®. This approach was protected by US patents until recently. Unfortunately, the FONAR technology has not improved in the past two decades and has not kept pace with  the dramatic technological improvements in MRI that have occurred in the past two decades. Critics of the FONAR technology cite poor image quality and discomfort of patients while scanning extremities as reasons they do not refer their patients to FONAR facilities.

Why should I insist on the Esaote G-Scan Brio?
The Esaote G-Scan Brio is “The MRI worth Weighting For!” The revolutionary Esaote G-Scan Brio is the 2nd Generation MR™ that combines unique Tiltable MRI™ with state-of-the-art coil technology and Open MRI technology to avoid claustrophobia. Salubrio LLC translating as “Enthusiastically Promoting Good Health”  is providing this unique weight-bearing MRI technology to diagnostic imaging centers throughout the United States.

Click here to locate a Salubrio G-scan MRI near you!