What Is An MRI? Details On Medical Exam, Prognosis For Stephen Curry's Knee Injury

The fate of the 2016 NBA postseason could very well rest on the results of Stephen Curry's MRI, which is scheduled for Monday. The Golden State Warriors star suffered a right knee injury that was diagnosed as a sprained MCL, but the severity of the injury won't truly be known until the results of the MRI are released.

But what exactly is an MRI? Let's break down the procedure we always hear about when injuries happen in the sports world. 

MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. It is a technique used to show the physiological processes happening inside the body, using magnetic fields radio-frequency waves instead of the ionizing radiation implemented in X-rays. The imaging happens in real-time, providing doctors with a three-dimensional view of organs, muscles and joints. 

While there are many different types of MRIs used in the medical field, the muscoloskeletal MRI is the one used when athletes are injured playing sports. In Curry's case, the imaging will allow doctors to see any damage done to the ligaments in his knee.

The MCL, or medical collateral ligament, is reportedly what Curry injured against the Houston Rockets in Game 4 on Sunday. A Grade 1 MCL sprain typically takes 1-2 weeks of recovery, while a Grade 2 sprain can take up to a month to heal from. A full tear of the MCL would mean several months of recovery, meaning the reigning MVP's 2016 playoff run would be over. 

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