Table 5 Cumulative number of discs in the thoracolumbar spine (Th1-S1) for each classification system
From: Low occurrence of MRI spinal changes in elite climbing athletes; a cross-sectional study
Thoracic spine | Lumbar spine | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  | Climbers n = 180 | Controls n = 180 |  | Climbers n = 75 | Controls n = 75 |
Pfirrmann | |||||
– | – | – | 1 | 24 (32.0) | 26 (34.7) |
1–2 | 169 (93.9) | 149 (82.8) | 2 | 43 (57.4) | 34 (45.3) |
3 | 11 (6.1) | 27 (15) | 3 | 7 (9.3) | 14 (18.7) |
4 | – | 4 (2.2) | 4 | 1 (1.3) | 1 (1.3) |
5 | – | – | 5 | – | – |
Total | 180 (100) | 180 (100) | Total | 75 (100) | 75 (100) |
Modic | |||||
0 | 177 (98.3) | 179 (99.4) | 0 | 74 (98.7) | 74 (98.7) |
1 | 1 (0.6) | – | 1 | 1 (1.3) | – |
2 | 2 (1.1) | – | 2 | – | 1 (1.3) |
3 | – | 1 (0.6) | 3 | – | – |
Total | 180 (100) | 180 (100) | Total | 75 (100) | 75 (100) |
Modified Endplate defect score | |||||
1 | 164 (91.1) | 154 (85.6) | 1 | 70 (93.4) | 65 (86.7) |
2 | 11 (6.1) | 20 (11.1) | 2 | 4 (5.3) | 10 (13.3) |
3 | 5 (2.8) | 6 (3.3) | 3 | 1 (1.3) | 0 |
4 | – | – | 4 | – | – |
Total | 180 (100) | 180 (100) | Total | 75 (100) | 75 (100) |