Back pain and MRI abnormalities in the thoraco-lumbar spine of elite long distance runners. A cross sectional study.

Article Sidebar

PDF Download
Published Nov 6, 2015

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Submit your own article

Register as an author to reserve your spot in the next issue of the Medical Research Archives.

Author Registration

Join the Society

The European Society of Medicine is more than a professional association. We are a community. Our members work in countries across the globe, yet are united by a common goal: to promote health and health equity, around the world.

Join Europe’s leading medical society and discover the many advantages of membership, including free article publication.

Membership

Main Article Content

Olof Thoreson
Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Karin Svensson
Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
Pall Jonasson
SportsMed Sweden AB, Carlanderska Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Peter Kovac
Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Leif Sward
Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Adad Baranto
Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Abstract

Study design

Observational cross-sectional study. Level of evidence 3.

Objective

The objective was to investigate the amount of MRI abnormalities in the thoraco-lumbar

spine and the prevalence of back pain in male elite long distance runners compared to a

control group of non-athletes in the corresponding age.

Summary of Background

Studies have shown that athletes have a higher prevalence of back pain and a greater

number of spinal abnormalities on MRI, such as disc degeneration, compared to non-

athletes. The associations between running and both back pain and spinal MRI abnormalities

have not been clarified.

Data

Study participants were 22 male elite long distance runners (runner group) and 25 male non-

athletes (control group) of 18-28 years of age.

Methods

Back pain was assessed by a three part self-reported questionnaire. Sagittal T1 and T2

weighted MRI examinations from Th5 to sacrum was conducted to evaluate MRI

abnormalities according to study protocol.

Results

The runners reported a significant higher prevalence of back pain (45%), compared to the

control group (12%) (P=0.011). No statistical significant difference was found in amount of

MRI verified spinal abnormalities (P=0.614) or type of abnormalities between the groups. No

statistically significant correlation between back pain and MRI abnormalities was

established.

Conclusions

Elite level male long distance runners have a significant higher prevalence of back pain but

demonstrate no significant difference in the amount or type of spinal abnormalities

compared to non-athletes. Further prospective studies are needed to validate the results.

Keywords

Running, Low back Pain, young adult, Magnetic resonance imaging, intervertebral disc

displacement, athletes, sports, physical loading, cross sectional studies.

Article Details

How to Cite
THORESON, Olof et al. Back pain and MRI abnormalities in the thoraco-lumbar spine of elite long distance runners. A cross sectional study.. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 2, n. 4, nov. 2015. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/325>. Date accessed: 27 dec. 2024.
ABNT APA BibTeX CBE EndNote - EndNote format (Macintosh & Windows) MLA ProCite - RIS format (Macintosh & Windows) RefWorks Reference Manager - RIS format (Windows only) Turabian
Keywords
Running, Low back Pain, young adult, Magnetic resonance imaging, intervertebral disc displacement, athletes, sports, physical loading, cross sectional studies.
Issue
Vol 2 No 4 (2015): Vol.2 Issue 4, 22-28 October
Section
Research Articles

The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.

 

References

Abraham, T., Holder, L., & Silberstein, C. (1997). The retroisthmic cleft. Scintigraphic appearance and clinical relevance in patients with low back pain. Clin Nucl Med, 22(3), 161-165.

Arkin, A. M., & Katz, J. F. (1956). The effects of pressure on epiphyseal growth; the mechanism of plasticity of growing bone. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 38-A(5), 1056-1076.

Bahr, R., Andersen, S. O., Loken, S., Fossan, B., Hansen, T., & Holme, I. (2004). Low back pain among endurance athletes with and without specific back loading--a cross-sectional survey of cross-country skiers, rowers, orienteerers, and nonathletic controls. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 29(4), 449-454.

Baranto, A., Hellstrom, M., Cederlund, C. G., Nyman, R., & Sward, L. (2009). Back pain and MRI changes in the thoraco-lumbar spine of top athletes in four different sports: a 15-year follow-up study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc, 17(9), 1125-1134. doi: 10.1007/s00167-009-0767-3

Baranto, A., Hellstrom, M., Nyman, R., Lundin, O., & Sward, L. (2006). Back pain and degenerative abnormalities in the spine of young elite divers: a 5-year follow-up magnetic resonance imaging study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc, 14(9), 907-914. doi: 10.1007/s00167-005-0032-3

Bono, C. M. (2004). Low-back pain in athletes. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 86-A(2), 382-396.

Ferguson, R. J., McMaster, J. H., & Stanitski, C. L. (1974). Low back pain in college football linemen. J Sports Med, 2(2), 63-69.

Foss, I. S., Holme, I., & Bahr, R. (2012). The prevalence of low back pain among former elite cross-country skiers, rowers, orienteerers, and nonathletes: a 10-year cohort study. Am J Sports Med, 40(11), 2610-2616. doi: 10.1177/0363546512458413

Goldstein, J. D., Berger, P. E., Windler, G. E., & Jackson, D. W. (1991). Spine injuries in gymnasts and swimmers. An epidemiologic investigation. Am J Sports Med, 19(5), 463-468.

Granhed, H., & Morelli, B. (1988). Low back pain among retired wrestlers and heavyweight lifters. Am J Sports Med, 16(5), 530-533.

Hainline, B. (1995). Low back injury. Clin Sports Med, 14(1), 241-265.

Hangai, M., Kaneoka, K., Hinotsu, S., Shimizu, K., Okubo, Y., Miyakawa, S., . . . Ochiai, N. (2009). Lumbar intervertebral disk degeneration in athletes. Am J Sports Med, 37(1), 149-155. doi: 10.1177/0363546508323252

Hangai, M., Kaneoka, K., Okubo, Y., Miyakawa, S., Hinotsu, S., Mukai, N., . . . Ochiai, N. (2010). Relationship between low back pain and competitive sports activities during youth. Am J Sports Med, 38(4), 791-796. doi: 10.1177/0363546509350297

Haus, B. M., & Micheli, L. J. (2012). Back pain in the pediatric and adolescent athlete. Clin Sports Med, 31(3), 423-440. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2012.03.011

Hellstrom, M., Jacobsson, B., Sward, L., & Peterson, L. (1990). Radiologic abnormalities of the thoraco-lumbar spine in athletes. Acta Radiol, 31(2), 127-132.

Hubbard, D. D. (1974). Injuries of the spine in children and adolescents. Clin Orthop Relat Res(100), 56-65.

Jackson, D. W., Wiltse, L. L., & Cirincoine, R. J. (1976). Spondylolysis in the female gymnast. Clin Orthop Relat Res(117), 68-73.

Kujala, U. M., Taimela, S., Erkintalo, M., Salminen, J. J., & Kaprio, J. (1996). Low-back pain in adolescent athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 28(2), 165-170.

Lundin, O., Hellstrom, M., Nilsson, I., & Sward, L. (2001). Back pain and radiological changes in the thoraco-lumbar spine of athletes. A long-term follow-up. Scand J Med Sci Sports, 11(2), 103-109.

Mautner, K. R., & Huggins, M. J. (2012). The young adult spine in sports. Clin Sports Med, 31(3), 453-472. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2012.03.007

McCarroll, J. R., Miller, J. M., & Ritter, M. A. (1986). Lumbar spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in college football players. A prospective study. Am J Sports Med, 14(5), 404-406.

Micheli, L. J., & Wood, R. (1995). Back pain in young athletes. Significant differences from adults in causes and patterns. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 149(1), 15-18.

Pfirrmann, C. W., Metzdorf, A., Zanetti, M., Hodler, J., & Boos, N. (2001). Magnetic resonance classification of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 26(17), 1873-1878.

Schmidt, C. P., Zwingenberger, S., Walther, A., Reuter, U., Kasten, P., Seifert, J., . . . Stiehler, M. (2014). Prevalence of low back pain in adolescent athletes - an epidemiological investigation. Int J Sports Med, 35(8), 684-689. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1358731

Skoffer, B., & Foldspang, A. (2008). Physical activity and low-back pain in schoolchildren. Eur Spine J, 17(3), 373-379. doi: 10.1007/s00586-007-0583-8

Sward, L., Hellstrom, M., Jacobsson, B., Nyman, R., & Peterson, L. (1990). Acute injury of the vertebral ring apophysis and intervertebral disc in adolescent gymnasts. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 15(2), 144-148.

Sward, L., Hellstrom, M., Jacobsson, B., Nyman, R., & Peterson, L. (1991). Disc degeneration and associated abnormalities of the spine in elite gymnasts. A magnetic resonance imaging study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 16(4), 437-443.

Sward, L., Hellstrom, M., Jacobsson, B., & Peterson, L. (1990). Back pain and radiologic changes in the thoraco-lumbar spine of athletes. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 15(2), 124-129.

Tertti, M., Paajanen, H., Kujala, U. M., Alanen, A., Salmi, T. T., & Kormano, M. (1990). Disc degeneration in young gymnasts. A magnetic resonance imaging study. Am J Sports Med, 18(2), 206-208.

Thoreson, O., Baranto, A., Ekstrom, L., Holm, S., Hellstrom, M., & Sward, L. (2010). The immediate effect of repeated loading on the compressive strength of young porcine lumbar spine. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc, 18(5), 694-701. doi: 10.1007/s00167-009-1001-z