title: Exertional muscle injuries: magnetic resonance imaging evaluation.
abstract: Exertion-related muscle pain is frequent in athletes and patients alike; however, its severity and significance may be difficult to assess clinically. MRI can be used to evaluate myalgia, strains, delayed-onset muscle soreness, chronic muscle overuse syndromes, muscle contracture, and sequellae of muscle injuries such as myositis ossificans and compartment syndrome. MRI documents the distribution of affected muscles, the presence of focal hematoma, fascial herniation, and subsequent healing, fibrosis, or fatty infiltration. MRI is useful in evaluating acute and delayed exertional muscle injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-8896.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fleckenstein
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Shellock
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009132:Muscles / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D010146:Pain