A shoulder coil for use in MR imaging includes a rigid housing configured to be positioned on the posterior portion of the shoulder and a flexible coil assembly, mounted to the rigid housing, where the flexible coil assembly is repositionable with respect to the first housing. The flexible coil assembly may be folded outward to facilitate loading of the patient or positioning of the shoulder coil with respect to the patient and folded inward to rest on the shoulder of the patient during imaging. The shoulder coil is positioned at an angle with respect to the shoulder to extend from the superior surface to the lateral surface of the shoulder. Antennas are located in the rigid housing, flexible coil assembly and between the two housings to detect NMR signals from each surface of the shoulder.
