Upright MRI vs Lying Down: The Truth About Back Pain Scans (NEW RESEARCH) | #502

25 Aug 2025 · 17 min
17:01

A new systematic review of 19 studies found upright MRI shows more disc bulges, ligament thickening, and spinal narrowing than lying-down MRI, and correlates better with pain and disability. Dr. Jeff Langmaid explains when upright imaging matters for diagnosis and why supine scans can miss what happens under load.

Questions this video answers

19 studies

>5,200 participants

38 parameters (about 40 reported; Langmaid cites 38)

13 of 14 comparisons

39% higher correlation with disability when measured upright

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