ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2021
Different disc characteristics between young elite skiers with diverse training histories revealed with a novel quantitative magnetic resonance imaging method.
Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Impact of Exercise on Intervertebral Disc Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Pooled it
- Elite rock-climbers exhibit early signs of degenerative spinal changes; enhanced analysis using quantitative MRI.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Disc Degeneration in Elite Cross-Country Skiers: A Comparative Study With Non-Athlete Controls.Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports · 2025Observational
- Article
- Detailed MRI evaluation of the spine: a 2-year follow-up study of young individuals reporting different training doses.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2023Article
- No Significant Change in MRI Abnormalities or Back Pain Prevalence in the Thoraco-Lumbar Spine of Young Elite Skiers Over a 2-Year Follow-Up.Open access journal of sports medicine · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeTo evaluate if there are differences in thoraco-lumbar disc characteristics between elite skiers and non-athletic controls as well as between different types of elite skiers, with diverse training histories, using a novel quantitative MRI method.
methodsThe thoraco-lumbar spine of 58 elite skiers (age = 18.2 ± 1.1 years, 30 males) and 26 normally active controls (age = 16.4 ± 0.6 years, 9 males) was examined using T2w-MRI. Disc characteristics were compared quantitatively between groups using histogram and regional image analyses to determine delta peak and T2-values in five sub-regions.
resultsA statistical difference in the delta peak value was found between skiers and controls (p <0.001), reflecting higher degree of disc degeneration. The histogram analysis also revealed that the type of training determines where and to what extent the changes occur. Alpine skiers displayed lumbar changes, while mogul skiers displayed changes also in the thoracic spine. Alpine skiers with diverse training dose differed in delta peak value (p = 0.005), where skiers with highest training dose displayed less changes. Regional T2-value differences were found in skiers with divergent training histories (p <0.05), reflecting differences in disc degeneration patterns, foremost within the dorsal annulus.
conclusionDifferences in quantitative disc characteristics were found not only between elite skiers and non-athletic controls but also between subgroups of elite skiers with diverse training histories. The differences in the disc measures, reflecting tissue degradation, are likely related to type and intensity of the physical training. Future studies are encouraged to explore the relation between disc functionality, training history and pain to establish adequate prevention and rehabilitation programs.
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