FAQ

What is Springbok Analytics?

Founded as a scientific research tool to help pediatric surgeons with procedures for cerebral palsy, Springbok is now a leading life sciences muscle analytics company driving better health and performance outcomes.

Our technology analyzes MRI data and creates patient and person specific 3D
visualizations of muscle health, enhancing the information, assessment, treatment monitoring, research and diagnostic value of MR imaging.

We can precisely quantify individual muscle size and quality, fat infiltration, left-right asymmetries, as well as scar tissue, edema, and tendon morphology.

Why do we focus on muscle health?

Muscle mass is a strong predictor of health and longevity, and poor muscle health causes $600 billion in economic burden annually in the US alone.

MRI is the only modality to measure muscle volume, symmetry, and distribution accurately, precisely, and cost-effectively, and we have built the only commercialized technology capable of unlocking the full value of MRI for comprehensive muscle analysis.

How does a Springbok scan work?

Step 1: The Scan

Individuals get a rapid MRI leveraging readily available sequences. A Springbok lower extremity scan can be completed in less than 15 minutes, and a full body scan takes under 45 minutes.

Step 2: Processing the Scan

Once your scan is complete, de-identified images are uploaded to our secure server, processed by our AI-based software, and reviewed for quality.

Step 3: Your Personalized Springbok Report

Your personalized Springbok report (with full 3D muscle visualizations and comprehensive data) is uploaded to our interactive viewer. You also receive a static PDF report of your Springbok scan.

How long until I get my results back?

You will receive your Springbok report within 1-2 business days.

How can I review my results?

There are two primary ways to review your Springbok results:

1) Through our interactive, online viewer – this provides a dynamic, 3D analysis into your muscles and scan results.

2) A static PDF report – this is an easy-to-share document that you can download and store offline.

Why should I get a Springbok scan?

Deficient muscle size, muscle imbalances and/or injuries represent a substantial risk to health and high performance. Springbok’s technology identifies and measures every individual muscle to deliver objective data and digestible visualizations that help you know your muscles better than ever before.

Springbok’s technology was designed to precisely analyze muscle. It translates objective, detailed muscle measurements into actionable information.

What does a Springbok scan measure?

For each muscle in the coverage area, Springbok provides analysis related to:

Muscle Size: Identifies which muscles are most and least developed according to your height, mass, and biological sex.

Muscle Asymmetries: Identifies muscle imbalances between limbs. Reported as percentage difference of raw volume between limbs.

Fat Infiltration: Identifies amount of fat that has replaced muscle fibers. Reported as percentage of intramuscular fat replacement, this is often reported in research studies as fat fraction.

Has Springbok’s technology been validated?

Springbok’s technology is backed by over 13 years of research and its scientists have been published in over 15 peer-reviewed publications.

Read Springbok’s published scientific work here.

Do I need a physician’s order to get a Springbok scan?

A Springbok scan does not require a physician’s order, though some of our imaging partners have individual requirements. It is best to reach out to them directly and ask.

Where can I get a Springbok scan?

Springbok primarily works with sports, life sciences and research organizations, but we have hundreds of imaging partners across the US and globally offering individual Springbok analysis services.

Check out our locations here (and if you don’t see your location on there, reach out to us directly).

Why does Springbok use AI?

Springbok uses artificial intelligence to automate the creation of a digital twin of a person’s musculature. AI minimizes the margin of error, overcomes long processing times, and generates advanced details about the affected musculoskeletal structure.

AI has unlocked a personalized and progressive care plan quicker, more efficiently and more scalable than traditional approaches.

All Springbok scans are also reviewed by trained experts.

Is it safe to get a Springbok scan?

Yes, our scans are safe. Since we leverage MRI, our scans are radiation free and non-invasive.

MRI/radiation free

Does Springbok use a special type of MRI machine?

No – our technology leverages readily available sequences on all makes and models of MRI equipment.

Why MRI?

MRI is the gold standard in imaging and the most advanced method for measuring muscle volume and muscle health.

How long does a Springbok scan take?

Lower Extremity (LE)
Our LE scan takes less than 15 minutes (which includes the full appointment time – the actual imaging time is less than 10 minutes)

Full Body (FB)
Our FB scan takes less than 45 minutes (which includes the full appointment time – the actual imaging time is less than 35 minutes).

How often should I get scanned?

Outside of a major injury or specific training regimen, we recommend an annual scan alongside your physical check-up if you have no underlying conditions, such as injury or surgery.

Related to specific use-cases, many of our elite sports athletes undergo 3-4 scans per year, and more when rehabbing from injury or pre-post-surgery.

Is Springbok similar to DEXA?

DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) evaluates bone density and body composition. It assesses soft tissue as well but is less able to distinguish between adipose and muscle tissue.

While DEXA is sometimes used for assessing muscle changes, research demonstrates it does not reliably assess changes in muscle tissue over time.

Our analysis is MRI-based (no radiation, non-invasive), and has proven its value in assessing muscle health – from size to asymmetry and quality, across over 100 individual muscles throughout the body.