---
title: Lumbar Spine on MRI and Low Back Pain in Elite Cross-country Skiers
nct_id: NCT05641857
overall_status: COMPLETED
sponsor: Orton Orthopaedic Hospital
study_type: OBSERVATIONAL
primary_condition: Disc Degeneration
countries: Finland
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT05641857.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05641857"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2023-11-02
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T06:28:43.985Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Lumbar Spine on MRI and Low Back Pain in Elite Cross-country Skiers

**NCT ID:** [NCT05641857](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05641857)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Study Type:** OBSERVATIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 63
- **Lead Sponsor:** Orton Orthopaedic Hospital
- **Collaborators:** Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Päijät Häme Central Hospital
- **Conditions:** Disc Degeneration
- **Start Date:** 2022-09-01
- **Completion Date:** 2023-06-30
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2023-11-02

## Brief Summary

The investigators will examine the prevalence of low-back pain and disc degeneration among Finnish elite skiers between 16 and 35 years of age and compare these findings with the data collected among healthy volunteers studied between 1994-2021.

## Detailed Description

The study population will consist of Finnish elite cross-country skiers between 18 and 35 years of age. Invitation letters will be sent to all skiers who are selected to national teams at season 2022-2023. The study population for the current study will be approximately 100 individuals. Study protocol for the current study will consist of a semi-structured interview, clinical examination, lumbar spine MRI and patient reported outcome measures. All participants will sign an informed consent before commencement of the study. If a participant is younger than 18 years, also his/her caregiver will be asked for a signed consent.

The interview comprised of questions about the athletes training volume and possible LBP without associated trauma. (suspension from training or competition due to LBP, possible contacts to health-care providers).

Body height and weight were self-reported. Leg length inequality was assessed comparing the height of the left and right iliac crests in standing position with straight knees. Wooden blocks of different thickness (with 0.5 cm increment) were used for correction of possible leg length inequality. Symmetry of the back was measured in forward bending using a scoliometer.

From MRI (high field 1.5 T) the signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus will be assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The midline T2-weighted images will be independently evaluated visually by three evaluators using a Pfirrmann classification. The quantitative nucleus signal intensities will be assessed by two evaluators using a relative measure comparing the signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus to that of the adjacent cerebrospinal fluid on T2-weighted images.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 16 Years
- **Maximum age:** 35 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** Yes

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Finnish elite cross-country skiers (national teams from the age of 16)

Exclusion Criteria:

* none
```

## Arms

- **Low back pain and disc degeneration among elite cross-country skiers** — No intervention Interview, clinical examination and MRI
- **Low back pain and disc degeneration among healthy volunteers** — No intervention Interview, clinical examination and MRI

## Primary Outcomes

- **Pfirrmann summary score** _(time frame: Baseline)_ — Summary score of individual Pfirrmann grades of lumbar discs (L1-L5). Grade is 5 to 25, where 5 is the best value and 25 the worst value.
- **Low back pain (LBP)** _(time frame: Baseline)_ — Low back pain NRS (numeric rating scale) 0 to 10, where 0 is the best value and 100 is the worst value.

## Secondary Outcomes

- **Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)** _(time frame: Baseline)_
- **EQ-5D-5L** _(time frame: Baseline)_

## Locations (1)

- Research Institute Orton, Helsinki, In the USA Or Canada, Please Select..., Finland

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.collaborators` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.research institute orton|helsinki|in the usa or canada, please select...|finland` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

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*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05641857*  
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