Imaging-guided management of gastrocnemius injuries in sport
Gastrocnemius injuries are one of the most common calf muscle injuries in elite sports, often disrupting performance and requiring precise imaging for diagnosis and rehabilitation. These injuries can vary in severity and presentation, making accurate evaluation essential to guide treatment and reduce time away from sport.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound are key tools for evaluating muscle integrity, localizing injury, and tracking recovery. When used together, they help forecast return-to-play timelines and refine rehabilitation strategies1.
Join the Sports Med Days series on day two for a focused session on gastrocnemius injuries. Explore how ultrasound and MRI work together to support diagnosis, recovery monitoring, and performance management in professional athletes.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound are key tools for evaluating muscle integrity, localizing injury, and tracking recovery. When used together, they help forecast return-to-play timelines and refine rehabilitation strategies1.
Join the Sports Med Days series on day two for a focused session on gastrocnemius injuries. Explore how ultrasound and MRI work together to support diagnosis, recovery monitoring, and performance management in professional athletes.
Day 2 | Gastrocnemius Muscle
Ultrasound / MRI
May 28, 7 pm (CEST) / 1 pm (EDT)
Mark your calendar for the second day of the Sports Med Days webinar series. This session will focus on the diagnosis, monitoring, and rehabilitation of gastrocnemius injuries using MRI and ultrasound.
Dr. Gil Rodas, Dr. Rajat Chowdhury, and Dr. Sandra Mechó will share case-based insights and discuss how advanced imaging supports recovery strategies tailored to elite athletes' demands.
Program
May 28, 7 pm (CEST) / 1 pm (EDT)
Mark your calendar for the second day of the Sports Med Days webinar series. This session will focus on the diagnosis, monitoring, and rehabilitation of gastrocnemius injuries using MRI and ultrasound.
Dr. Gil Rodas, Dr. Rajat Chowdhury, and Dr. Sandra Mechó will share case-based insights and discuss how advanced imaging supports recovery strategies tailored to elite athletes' demands.
Program
- Pearls and Pitfalls of Ultrasound of the Gastrocnemius | Dr. Rajat Chowdhury
- MRI Assessment of Triceps Surae Injuries | Dr. Sandra Mechó
- Live Q&A moderated by Dr. Gil Rodas
- Discover when ultrasound is most effective for evaluating calf injuries
- Learn how to interpret dynamic imaging and avoid common diagnostic pitfalls
- Recognize alternative diagnoses that should not be overlooked
- Participate in the live Q&A to find answers to your questions
Speakers and Presentations
Moderator: Dr. Gil Rodas, MD, PhD Medical Director
Sports Medicine Center FC Barcelona, Hospital Clinic and Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Sports Medicine Center FC Barcelona, Hospital Clinic and Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Speaker:
Dr. Rajat Chowdhury, MA(Oxon) BMBCh(Oxon) MRCS FRCR
Consultant Musculoskeletal and Sports Radiologist
Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners
London, UK
Presentation: Pearls and Pitfalls of Ultrasound of the Gastrocnemius
A review of the anatomy of gastrocnemius on ultrasound and interpretation of the ultrasound appearances of gastrocnemius injuries and their mimics.
Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners
London, UK
Presentation: Pearls and Pitfalls of Ultrasound of the Gastrocnemius
A review of the anatomy of gastrocnemius on ultrasound and interpretation of the ultrasound appearances of gastrocnemius injuries and their mimics.
Speaker: Dr. Sandra Mechó, MD, PhD Radiologist
Clinica Creu Blanca-Sports Medicine Center Futbol Club
Barcelona, Spain
Presentation: MRI Assessment of Triceps Surae Injuries
Isolated analysis of the medial gastrocnemius lacks clinical sense without considering the triceps surae as a functional unit. While ultrasound is the gold standard for assessing medial gastrocnemius injuries, it is well established that up to 25% of soleus injuries may go undetected with this technique. Therefore, when a soleus injury is suspected or must be ruled out, MRI becomes the gold standard for evaluation. MRI allows comprehensive assessment of the triceps surae complex, enabling accurate diagnosis and optimal management of both superficial and deep muscle injuries. Understanding the limitations and strengths of each imaging modality is essential for tailored, athlete-centered care.
Clinica Creu Blanca-Sports Medicine Center Futbol Club
Barcelona, Spain
Presentation: MRI Assessment of Triceps Surae Injuries
Isolated analysis of the medial gastrocnemius lacks clinical sense without considering the triceps surae as a functional unit. While ultrasound is the gold standard for assessing medial gastrocnemius injuries, it is well established that up to 25% of soleus injuries may go undetected with this technique. Therefore, when a soleus injury is suspected or must be ruled out, MRI becomes the gold standard for evaluation. MRI allows comprehensive assessment of the triceps surae complex, enabling accurate diagnosis and optimal management of both superficial and deep muscle injuries. Understanding the limitations and strengths of each imaging modality is essential for tailored, athlete-centered care.
Discover More About the Speaker
Discover More About the Moderator and Speakers
Dr. Gil Rodas, MD, PhDDr. Gil Rodas is a leading expert in sports medicine with over 30 years of experience in athlete health and performance. Based in Barcelona, he is part of the FC Barcelona Medical Department and serves as Medical Director of the Barça Innovation Hub.
He is also affiliated with the Sports Medicine Units at Hospital Clínic and Sant Joan de Déu, and is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Barcelona. A member of the Spanish Olympic Committee's Medical Commission, his work bridges elite sport and academic research.
Dr. Rodas’s studies span genetics, epigenetics, hypoxia, and cardiovascular responses in athletes, with a recent focus on muscle and tendon injury prevention, diagnosis, and treatment – especially through biological approaches, including cell therapies. He is also focused on Sportomics as a tool to monitor athlete health and performance.
Dr. Rodas has contributed to numerous national and international projects and has published more than 100 articles in top journals.
Dr. Rajat Chowdhury, MA(Oxon) BMBCh(Oxon) MRCS FRCR Dr. Rajat Chowdhury works at Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners and serves as Head of Musculoskeletal Radiology at Oxford University Hospitals, UK. He is an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Oxford University, Director of Anatomy at The Queen’s College (Oxford), and Radiology Lead for the Musculoskeletal Sciences MSc at Oxford University.
He has served as an expert advisor to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence Guidelines Committee for Osteoarthritis Guidelines Committee for Osteoarthritis and was a member of the Royal College of Radiologists’ (RCR) Professional Support and Standards Board.
Dr. Chowdhury is Co-chair of the WHO Global Tumour Radiology Board, Associate Editor of Clinical Radiology (RCR’s journal), and a Council member of the British Society of Skeletal Radiologists.
He has particular expertise in elite sport and regularly works with international athletes, including support for Premier League football clubs.
Dr. Sandra Mechó, MD, PhD Dr. Sandra Mechó is a radiologist specializing in musculoskeletal MRI at Creu Blanca and collaborates with the Medical Department of the Sports Science Area at FC Barcelona.
Dr. Mechó earned her PhD with honors (Cum Laude) from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, where she received the Extraordinary PhD Award for her research on the proximal myotendinous junction of the rectus femoris.
She is involved in multiple research projects within the Barça Innovation Hub and has co-authored more than 10 publications over the past five years in high- and medium-impact journals focused on anatomy and muscle pathology.
She has presented at several national and international conferences on MRI in muscle injury, most recently at the VI Congress March Break: Stadium 10 Years (March 21–23, 2025).
Other webinars that may interest you
MRI Webinar Multimodality Webinar Ultrasound Webinar
References
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