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. 2023 Mar 9;15(1):29.
doi: 10.1186/s13102-023-00637-z.

Low occurrence of MRI spinal changes in elite climbing athletes; a cross-sectional study

Fredrik Identeg  1   2 , Kerstin Lagerstrand  3   4 , Henrik Hedelin  5   4 , Eric Hamrin Senorski  6 , Mikael Sansone  5   4 , Hanna Hebelka  7   4
Affiliations

Low occurrence of MRI spinal changes in elite climbing athletes; a cross-sectional study

Fredrik Identeg et al. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. .

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the occurrence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in the thoracolumbar spine among elite climbing athletes.

Methods: All climbers of the Swedish national sport climbing team (n = 8), and individuals having trained for selection to the national team (n = 11), were prospectively included. A control group, matched in age and sex, were recruited. All participants underwent a thoracolumbar MRI (1.5 T, T1- and T2-weighted imaging), evaluated according to Pfirrmann classification, modified Endplate defect score, Modic changes, apophyseal injuries and spondylolisthesis. Pfirrmann ≥ 3, Endplate defect score ≥ 2 and Modic ≥ 1 was defined as degenerative findings.

Results: Fifteen individuals, 8 women, participated in both the climbing group (mean age 23.1, SD 3.2 years) and the control group respectively (mean age 24.3, SD 1.5 years). In the climbing group, 6.1% of the thoracic and 10.6% of the lumbar intervertebral discs showed signs of degeneration according to Pfirrmann. One disc with a grade above 3 was present. Modic changes in the thoracic/lumbar spine were prevalent in 1.7%/1.3% of the vertebrae. Degenerative endplate changes according to the Endplate defect score were found in 8.9% and 6.6% of the thoracic and lumbar spinal segments of the climbing group, respectively. Two apophyseal injuries were found, while no participants displayed signs of spondylolisthesis. There was no difference in point-prevalence of radiographic spinal changes between climbers and controls (0.07 < p < 1.0).

Conclusion: In this small cross-sectional study, only a low proportion of elite climbers displayed changes of the spinal endplates or intervertebral discs, as opposed to other sports with high spinal loads. Most observed abnormalities were low grade degenerative changes and did not differ statistically compared to controls.

Keywords: Back pain; Disc degeneration; Endplate; Lumbar spine; Magnetic resonance imaging; Rock-climbing; Thoracic spine.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare no financial or other competing interests related to authorship or publication.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
MRI of a female climber in the 20s with few prevalent spinal changes. The lumbar and thoracic spine (A–D) show few signs of spinal changes of the endplates and IVDs
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
MRI of a male climber in the 20s, with the highest accumulated number of spinal changes of the climbing participants. The lumbar imaging (A + B) displays endplate changes of the Th12-L1 segment. The thoracic imaging (C + D) displays multiple spinal segments with low grade endplate changes and reduced disc signal intensity. This individual constituted an outlier in the sample, with endplate irregularities commonly seen in Scheuermann´s disease. The participant did not however fulfil the criteria for Scheuermann´s disease
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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