Radiographic abnormalities of the lumbar spine in college football players. A comparative analysis

The purpose of this study was to make a direct comparison between lumbar spine radiographs of incoming college football players and of an age-matched control group to determine whether there is a higher prevalence of lumbar spine abnormalities in football players before competing at the Division I level. We reviewed 187 lumbar spine radiographs. Of these, 104 were taken as a standard part of the preparation physical examination for incoming college football players. The remaining 83 radiographs were taken during routine preemployment physicals at a local factory. Each radiograph was read independently by three separate orthopaedic radiologists in a blinded fashion. Data were collected and statistically evaluated for 13 variables. The rate of spondylolysis was only 4.8% in our group of athletes and 6.0% in the control group (not significantly different). Only in the category of degenerative changes was a significant difference found. The control group had a 16.9% incidence of disk space narrowing and spurring and the football players had a 6.7% incidence. The remainder of the variables were not significantly different between the two groups. Our findings differ from previously published reports and indicate that football players entering college at the Division I level may have a similar prevalence of radiographic lumbar spine abnormalities, including spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis, as age-matched controls.