Lumbar Disc Changes on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Asymptomatic Elite Male Soccer Players

Soccer places substantial mechanical demands on the lumbar spine through repeated sprinting, rotation, and contact-related loading. Although lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities are frequently observed in athletes, data studying the prevalence and distribution of lumbar disc pathology in this population remain limited.

Asymptomatic lumbar disc herniation may be common in elite male soccer players and disc herniation burden may not necessarily be associated with lumbar-related missed training sessions.

This is a retrospective observational cohort study evaluating lumbar MRI findings obtained at team entry and their relationship with missed training sessions.

Level 4.

MRI and training data were analyzed from 46 male soccer players from a single elite European team between 2020 and 2024. Outcomes observed included number of lumbar disc herniations, disc height loss, herniation levels and subtypes (central vs paracentral), and number of missed training sessions. Data analysis was completed using SPSS v27.

A total of 43 male soccer players were included. Asymptomatic lumbar disc herniations were common (43.2%). Lower lumbar levels were disproportionately affected with herniations occurring most frequently at L4-L5 (31.6%) and L5-S1 (39.5%) (P < 0.001). Central herniations predominated compared with paracentral herniations (P < 0.001). Disc herniation burden was not positively associated with missed training sessions.

Lumbar disc herniations on MRI are common in asymptomatic elite male soccer players and occur predominantly at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels, with central herniations being the most frequent subtype. Lumbar disc herniation burden may not necessarily correlate with missed training sessions.

Asymptomatic lumbar disc herniations may be common in elite male soccer players, without any correlation with participation in training sessions.