Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41416933›Full record

Observational studyScandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports2025

Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Disc Degeneration in Elite Cross-Country Skiers: A Comparative Study With Non-Athlete Controls.

Anni Aavikko, Janne Pesonen, Leena Ristolainen, Niko Murto, Hannu Kautiainen, Teija Lund

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Anni AavikkoDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Wellbeing Services County of Päijät-Häme, Lahti, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8501-6735
Janne PesonenKuopio University Hospital, Department of Rehabilitation, Kuopio, Finland.
Leena RistolainenOrton, Research Institute Orton, Helsinki, Finland.
Niko MurtoDepartment of Radiology, Helsinki University and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9820-1390
Hannu KautiainenPrimary Health Care Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland and Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.
Teija LundDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Funding

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Finland.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Intensive training in competitive sports during childhood and adolescence may increase the risk of low back pain (LBP). While disc degeneration (DD) is a known contributor to LBP, its occurrence among elite cross-country skiers has not been previously assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study aimed to compare the prevalence of LBP and DD in elite cross-country skiers and age-matched non-athlete controls. Forty-four elite skiers and 71 controls underwent a structured interview assessing LBP without specific trauma, a clinical examination, and lumbar spine MRI. Skiers also completed patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Disc morphology was evaluated from MRI using the Pfirrmann classification (grades 1-5). A Pfirrmann Summary Score (PSS) was calculated by summing the grades of the individual discs. Analyses were adjusted for age and sex. LBP was reported by 75% of skiers and 54% of controls (p = 0.028). DD prevalence, defined as at least one disc graded

Indexed as

Intervertebral Disc DegenerationLow Back PainSkiingAdolescentAdultCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansLumbar VertebraeMagnetic Resonance ImagingMalePatient Reported Outcome MeasuresPrevalenceYoung Adultathletescross‐country skiersdisc degenerationlow back painmagnetic resonance imagingnon‐athlete controls

Identifiers

PMID41416933
PMCPMC12716196

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.