Scintigraphic patterns of injury in amateur weight lifters

Purpose: Weight lifting is now a standard part of training in most sports. An increasing number of amateur athletes are doing strength training, mostl y in unsupervised situations. A series of injuries in amateur weight lifter s was analyzed by bone scintigraphy, with the aim of depicting specific pat terns that would accurately identify the primary lesions. Methods: Twelve patients (10 men and 2 women) were studied whose ages range d from 18 to 35 years. Patients were referred for bone scintigraphy with cl inical diagnoses based on history, physical examination, and appropriate ra diologic investigations. Diagnoses were confirmed by surgery, arthroscopy, arthrography, local steroid injection, and outcome. Results: Most of the injuries were in athletes undertaking free-weight trai ning. Most injuries were in the upper limbs, particularly around the should er. Scintigraphic patterns of supraspinatus and bicipital tendons and also rotator cuff lesions were identified. Clavicular osteolysis, avulsion injur ies, muscle damage, and vertebral lesions were also noted. Several abnormal ities revealed by scintigraphy were clinically unsuspected. Conclusions: Scintigraphic manifestations of several injuries, particularly around the shoulder, have a specific pattern. Recognition of these pattern s can enhance the performance of bone scintigraphy. Scintigraphy also has t he potential to detect clinically unsuspected disease.