MRI findings in the lumbar spines of asymptomatic, adolescent, elite tennis players.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in the lumbar spine in asymptomatic elite adolescent tennis players, to serve as the baseline for a future prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Design

Observational study.

Setting

Institutional, national tennis centre.

Participants

33 asymptomatic elite adolescent tennis players, mean (SD) age, 17.3 (1.7) years (18 male, 15 female).

Methods

Sagittal T1, T2, STIR, and axial T2 weighted MRI images were reviewed for the presence of abnormalities by two radiologists in consensus. Abnormalities included disc degeneration, disc herniation, pars lesions (fracture or stress reaction), and facet joint arthropathy.

Results

Five players (15.2%) had a normal MRI examination and 28 (84.8%) had a

SUBMITTER: Alyas F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2465278 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature