Long-term review of the lumbar spine in javelin throwers

We studied 21 former top-class competitive javelin throwers to investigate radiological and clinical symptoms in the lumbar spine many years after the end of their athletic careers. The athletes underwent clinical and radiolo gical examinations at an average of 20 years after retiring from athletics. The Hannover questionnaire was used to evaluate functional restrictions in daily living. Degenerative changes in the lumbar spine were more marked towards the cauda l aspect of the spine. Ten athletes also had spondylolisthesis, but with li ttle progression (< 15%) throughout the observation period. Athletes both w ith and without radiologically demonstrated spondylolisthesis, complained o f no more back problems than the normal population (93% for athletes v 86% for controls). Slight progression followed their retirement from athletics.