Traditional MRIs are not always the best at detecting back and spine problems, says Dr. Arthur Kreitenberg, a general orthopedic surgeon.

At Dynamic Upright MRI. he and other doctors use the Stand-Up MRI to help diagnose disc bulges or herniation, spinal instability and other problems.

Though the technology has been around for a few years, there are relatively few of the machines available, says Dr. Kreitenberg.

The problem, Kreitenberg said, is that when patients are in pain, they lay down to relieve the pain. With the Stand-Up MRI, patients can stand  and bend forward for a more useful MRI, Kreitenberg added. "We can get an MRI in the weight-bearing position that causes pain."

The Stand UP MRI allows all parts of the body, especially the spine and joints, to be imaged with the normal weight of the body on the spine and other joints—an advantage that may lead to a more accurate diagnosis.

Scans can be taken while the patient is seated, or standing. And the MRI  can also rotate the vertically-oriented patient into a horizontal position so the patient can be scanned lying down as in conventional MRI scanning.

Imaging the spine when it is fully loaded with a patient's body weight, as compared to unloaded in a conventional lie-down MRI, may be critical to an accurate diagnosis.

Many back problems are “missed” when the spine is not bearing the weight of the body and not imaged in the positions the spine normally occupies.

“We've used flexion and extension X-rays for many years, but this is the first MRI we can use in looking for spinal instability,” said Kreitenberg, who is also a Beverly High graduate. “In a supine MRI a disc bulge can measure two or three millimeters. When the patient stands up, it becomes eight.

“The disc is a dynamic structure, so being able to move a patient into different positions for an MRI is the big advantage,” Kreitenberg said.

The machine can be used for any part of the body, and because it’s a wide open machine; it's perfect for larger patients or those who suffer from claustrophobia. Clients can relax and even watch TV while the procedure is being done.

 The center also sees clients referred by other doctors, Kreitenberg said. “An interesting thing is that most orthopedic surgeons look at an MRI of the spine and look at the images as if the patient is standing up. Since the patient was lying down, they rotate the films. With this MRI, you're looking at reality and the image quality is quite good.”

Dynamic Upright MRI is at 5757 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 8.

For more information, call 323-964-0674 or visit www.dynamic-uprightmri.com.