title: High Prevalence of Disc Degeneration and Spondylolysis in the Lumbar Spine of Professional Beach Volleyball Players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Beach volleyball is an intensive sport with high impact on the lumbar spine. Low back pain (LBP) is frequent among elite players. Increased prevalence of pathological changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the lumbar spine of elite athletes has been reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  There is an increased prevalence of disc degeneration and spondylolysis in the MRI of the lumbar spine of professional beach volleyball players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine fully competitive professional male volleyball players (mean age, 28 years) completed outcomes questionnaires and underwent a complete clinical examination and an MRI of their lumbar spine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whereas 86% of players suffered from LBP during their career, the incidence of LBP in the last 4 weeks was 35%. Pain rated using a visual analog scale (VAS) averaged 3 points (range, 0-8). Twenty-three of 29 players (79%) had at least 1 degenerated disc of Pfirrmann grade ≥3. The most affected spinal levels were L4-5 in 14 (48%) and L5-S1 in 15 players (52%); both levels were involved in 5 players (17%). Six of 29 (21%) players showed a spondylolysis grade 4 according to the Hollenburg classification; there was evidence of spondylolisthesis in 2 players. There was no significant correlation between LBP and MRI abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the lumbar spine MRI of professional beach volleyball players, the prevalence of disc degeneration is 79%. Spondylolysis (21%) is up to 3 times higher compared with the normal population. Abnormal MRI findings did not correlate with LBP, thus MRIs have to be interpreted with caution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kantonsspital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fabrice A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Külling
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, Private Hospital Maria Hilf, Klagenfurt, Austria.
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Florianz
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kantonsspital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Bastian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reepschläger
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Private Hospital Maria Hilf, Klagenfurt, Austria.
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kantonsspital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jost
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, Private Hospital Maria Hilf, Klagenfurt, Austria.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lajtai
keywords: MRI; beach volleyball; disc degeneration; low back pain; spondylolysis