Evaluation of spine MRIs in athletes participating in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympic Games

Abstract

Background/aimIn high-level Olympic athletes, many spinal pathologies arise from overuse, while others are the result of acute injury. Our aim is to analyse the epidemiology of spinal pathologies detected on MRI in athletes participating in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.MethodsIn this retrospective study, all spine MRIs performed during the 2016 Rio Games were analysed. Descriptive data from the MRIs were tabulated and analysed for disc degeneration, spinal canal and/or neural foraminal narrowing, and acute/chronic fractures. Data were analysed by sport, continent of origin, age and sex.ResultsOf 11 274 athletes participating in the Olympic games, 100 received spine MRI. Fifty-two of the 100 (52%) athletes who received cervical, thoracic and/or lumbar spine MRI showed moderate to severe spinal disease. The highest sport-specific incidence of moderate to severe spine disease was seen in aquatic diving athletes (67%, 3 per 100 divers). Weightlifting had the second highest sport-specific incidence of spine disease (67%, 1.5 per 100 weightlifters). Athletics used the most spine MRIs (31 of 107 MRIs, 29%). European athletes had more spine MRIs than all other continents combined (55 of 107 MRIs, 51%). Athletes over 30 years old had the highest rate of moderate to severe spine disease on MRI (24 of 37 athletes >30 years old, 65%).ConclusionsA high number of the world’s premier athletes demonstrated moderate to severe spine disease on MRI during the 2016 Summer Olympics, including moderate/severe degenerative disc changes with varying degrees of disc bulges and herniations.

Fatty corner lesions in T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging as an alternative to sacroiliitis for diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis

“…Although FCLs are observed in axSpA, they are also present in degenerative and other spinal disorders [23] which could contribute to the differences in specificity. Among all vertebral levels, the thoracic spine is the least affected by degeneration [24, 25], rendering a more accurate diagnostic tool for axSpA.…”

MRI-detected spinal disc degenerative changes in athletes participating in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics games

“…Data about the degenerative changes of the cervical spine in athletes and particularly Olympic athletes is fairly limited [6,7,[17][18][19][20][21]. Our study is the first to assess the cervical DDD in Olympic athletes who obtained imaging.…”

“…Several studies have shown associations between competitive sports activities and degenerative pathology of the spine [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] . Olympic sports are no exception since Olympic athletes spend a considerable amount of time training and competing relying on strength, speed, force, bending, and twisting in their sport.…”

“…Olympic sports are no exception since Olympic athletes spend a considerable amount of time training and competing relying on strength, speed, force, bending, and twisting in their sport. The high intensity and repetitiveness of these activities predispose athletes to accelerated degenerative disc disease (DDD), theoretically higher than the general population [3,6,7]. Disc degeneration is considered the first step of degenerative disease of the spine, and it is usually followed by intervertebral disc narrowing, osteophyte formation, and resultant spinal stenosis and may be associated with pain and other neurological symptoms [14].…”

Lesions of the Lumbar Region in Asymptomatic Young Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Recent published studies have found a similar frequency of spinal lesions evaluated by MRI in young athletes practicing beach volleyball and gymnastics. The latter had more serious lesions [33,34]. The most common lesions in athletes are found in the posterior vertebral elements likely due to greater movements found during extension of the trunk and lumbar spine [35,36].…”