Plantar Fasciitis : Tests

Typical physical exam findings include: Mild swelling; Redness; Tenderness on the bottom of the heel. X-rays may be taken to rule out other problems, but having a heel spur is not significant.

X-rays of the extremities (the hand, wrist, foot, and ankle) are images of internal structures. X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation like light, but of higher energy, so they can penetrate the body to form an image on film. Structures that are dense (such as bone) will appear white, air will be black, and other structures will be shades of gray. (See also bone x-ray .)

MRI is a non-invasive procedure that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to construct pictures of the body. Unlike conventional radiography and computed tomographic ( CT ) imaging, which make use of potentially harmful radiation ( x-rays ), MRI imaging is based on the magnetic properties of atoms. A powerful magnet generates a magnetic field roughly 10,000 times stronger than the natural background magnetism from the earth. A very small percentage of hydrogen atoms within a human body will align with this field. When focused radio wave pulses are broadcast towards the aligned hydrogen atoms in tissues of interest, they will return a signal. The subtle differences in that signal from various body tissues enables MRI to differentiate organs, and potentially contrast benign and malignant tissue. Any imaging plane (or slice) can be projected, stored in a computer, or printed on film. MRI can easily be performed through clothing and bones. However, certain types of metal in the area of interest can cause significant errors, called artifacts, in the reconstructed images.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) is a test that lets your doctor see detailed pictures of the inside of your body. MRI combines the use of strong magnets and radio waves to form an MRI image.Before Your TestMRI uses ...