title: Anterior Limbus Vertebra and Intervertebral Disk Degeneration in Japanese Collegiate Gymnasts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown that gymnasts have a high prevalence of radiological abnormalities, such as intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) and anterior limbus vertebra (ALV). These 2 abnormalities may coexist at the same spinal level. However, the relationship between IDD and ALV remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A significant relationship exists between IDD and ALV in Japanese collegiate gymnasts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 104 Japanese collegiate gymnasts (70 men and 34 women; age, 19.7 ± 1.0 years) with 11.8 ± 3.6 years of sporting experience participated. T1- and T2-weighted MRIs were used to evaluate ALV and IDD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence among the gymnasts of IDD and ALV was 40.4% (42/104) and 20.2% (21/104), respectively. The prevalence of IDD was significantly higher in gymnasts with ALV than those without ALV, as determined using the chi-square test. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between IDD and ALV (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 6.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.14-20.35). IDD was further grouped by whether it was present in the upper lumbar region (L1-2, L2-3, and L3-4 disks) or in the lower lumbar region (L4-5 and L5-S1 disks). Upper IDD had a greater association with ALV (adjusted OR, 33.17; 95% CI, 7.09-155.25) than did lower IDD (adjusted OR, 6.71; 95% CI, 1.57-28.73).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Japanese collegiate gymnasts, ALV is a predictor of IDD, especially in the upper lumbar region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information regarding ALV is important to prevent IDD in Japanese collegiate gymnasts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Judotherapy, Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan. ; Graduate School of Health and Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Physiology, Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Physiology, Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Seok-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Sports Methodology (Gymnastic), Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gushiken
authors.affiliation: Sports Methodology (Gymnastic), Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hatakeda
authors.affiliation: Sports Methodology (Gymnastic), Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health and Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiranuma
keywords: endplate lesion; gymnastics; intervertebral disk degeneration; magnetic resonance imaging