ArticleBMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation2022
Lumbar spine MRI findings in asymptomatic elite male academy footballers: a case series.
Article in BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Facet tropism is not associated with lumbar spondylolysis: a computed tomography-based three-dimensional morphometric case-control study.Acta orthopaedica et traumatologica turcica · 2026Article
- Prevalence and Incidence of Isthmic Spondylolisthesis in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2026Review
- Elite rock-climbers exhibit early signs of degenerative spinal changes; enhanced analysis using quantitative MRI.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Exploring the Role of Sprint Biomechanics in Hamstring Strain Injuries: A Current Opinion on Existing Concepts and Evidence.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2024Review
- Answer to the Letter to the Editor of V. Kumar et al. concerning "The influence of spinal position on imaging findings: an observational study of thoracolumbar spine upright MRI in elite gymnasts" by Fawcett L, et al. (Eur Spine J [2022]; 31(2):225-232).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
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundUnderstanding common MRI findings may allow clinicians to appreciate the sport-specific effects on the lumbar spine, and to discern clinically significant pathology. Prevalence data regarding radiological abnormalities seen during the surveillance of asymptomatic elite footballers is, therefore, important to help understand injury mechanisms and to prevent associated injuries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in the lumbar spines of asymptomatic elite male adolescent footballers.
methodsA prospective case-series study was carried out. MRI was performed using a 3T Siemens Prisma scanner including a 3D VIBE sequence in 18 asymptomatic male elite adolescent footballers recruited from a professional academy in England (mean age 17.8, range 16.9-18.6 years). The images were independently reported by two consultant musculoskeletal radiologists to achieve consensus opinion. Standardised classification criteria were used to assess and report abnormalities descriptively.
resultsFifteen players (15/18, 83%) showed ≥1 abnormalities, included facet degeneration, synovial cysts, disc degeneration, disc herniation, and pars injury. One player (1/18, 6%) had mild (Grade 1) facet joint arthropathy at L4/L5 and 3/18 (16.7%) showing evidence of bilateral facet joint effusions. Three synovial cysts were identified in 2/18 players (11%), 4/18 players (22%) presented asymptomatic pars injuries, with 4 showing a grade 2 subtotal stress fracture and 1 player a grade 4 chronic stress fracture seen on 3D VIBE sequencing. Disc degeneration at one or more levels was demonstrated in 7/18 players (38%). Disc herniation was present in 5/18 players (27%).
conclusionA range of unsuspected findings on MRI of the lumbar spine are common in elite adolescent footballers.
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