Kelly Slater, 53, shares shocking health update following full-body MRI scan

“These scans are especially important for people in their 50's and beyond," says Kelly Slater.

The greatest surfer ever, Kelly Slater, although I am a Dane Reynolds man it has to be said, has shocked surf fans and fellow surf stars after he shared an MRI scan of his bent-up ol-man scoliosis-ravaged spine.

Kelly Slater, who will turn 54 in February, was gifted the full-body MRI scan by Prenuvo, saving the champ $2500.

Slater writes,

“I had a recent body scan done at @prenuvo to get a rundown of all the potential health concerns I know about and want to check in on or am unaware of and need to address now that I’m off tour and have some downtime. As you can read, I had a few minor and moderate findings to address which I won’t go over here.

“Clearly my scoliosis, which I’ve spoken about many times, is a serious issue but there were a few things I was unaware of that I reviewed with their doctor to either deal with or keep in mind as I continue future scans and see any noticeable changes. Showing my spine feels super personal as it’s crazy to see the curvature l’ve dealt with all these years but I think it’s important people know we all deal with physical ailments and can find ways to minimize their impacts and potentially reverse what comes up.

“These scans are especially important for people in their 50’s and beyond and I’m super thankful Prenuvo were able to find me a time in the short window I had to make it into their clinic. Only issue for me was I re-injured my hip a couple days after this and wish I had gotten the imagery to see any new damage there. We’ll review that next time.”

Slater also pointed out that he was required by law to state that the post was an advertisement for Prenuvo but that he would’ve got the scan anyway.

The biz of selling full-body MRI scans is mired in controversy, partly because of the expense, it’s a status symbol for the rich while the poor die of preventable diseases and partly because it can get a brother all worked up over some mysterious blip that might turn out to be nothing although Time reported one ER doc having his cancerous kidney ripped out after a suss tumour was spotted on a scan.

In Slater’s comments, there was mostly praise but a light fury from at least one fan.

A black-belt jiujitsu man who is also a physio, Bruno, replied:

“Fantastic, another high-profile athlete promoting unwarranted imaging scans for healthy individuals who don’t need a scan to find out anything. All whilst getting a kickback from the company being promoted. For f-k’s sake, every half decent health professional knows MRIs OVERreport findings which are often nothing but incidental findings on MRI imaging without any substance of implication for one’s health. So I call this hidden lame ad BS!”

To which Kelly Slater shot back,

“I got a free scan and no payment. But why are you so mad? I found a number of things to address I wasn’t aware of. you’re free to unfollow.”

Bruno was not to be deterred.

“i don’t care about your free scan. I like free stuff myself. In a way I do care about the bunch of bs you were fed after your scan but that is between you and the professionals looking after you, not me.

My protest, not mad, is because I and many others spend hours of our time and energy to try and convince people who follow high profile social media people like you that the health info they read in your page is grossly distorted! They don’t need a scan, they don’t need intermittent fasting, there is no magic pill to good health and good health advice rarely comes out of social media. So yes, inadvertently or not, this post is a disservice. Thanks for giving me a voice and permission to unfollow, but I am actually a fun of your surfing, hence why I am here, not for health advice.

You have accomplished more than most humans ever got close to. If you were just a social media celeb it wouldn’t bother me too much. But your voice has weight, in this case sadly.”

Happily, other fans were quick to tell Kelly Slater they, too, would be seeking full-body MRI scans and advised Slater not to be upset by Bruno the jiujitsu physio’s words.

“Old mate is just suffering in his own significance,” wrote Tuben Reuben. “Even has the hide to call himself a half decent medical professional.”

Even old bandmate Peter King was in there with a jab suggesting Slater was suffering a urinary tract infection. 

Examine the Prenuvo full-body scan here.