Bezuglov E, Lazarev A, Petrov A, et al. - Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study examining the actual prevalence of degenerative spinal changes and their correlation with age in a cohort of professional soccer players. Among 40 professional male soccer players included in the study (average age 26,6 ± 4,5 years, average height 18 ± 0.07 m, weight 76.7 ± 7.1 kg), 92.5% (n = 37) had ≥ 1 spinal degenerative condition. Players who had six or more conditions had a significantly higher average age relative to those who had zero to five or three to five conditions. The most common pathologic condition identified was disc desiccation, which was found in 82.5% of athletes. The studied lumbar spine MRI scans revealed presence of facet joint arthropathy and spondylosis in 70%, and 50%, respectively. The spondylolysis prevalence of 20% was observed. Overall findings suggest a high prevalence of asymptomatic degenerative lumbar spinal degenerative changes in elite professional soccer players, and that these changes are significantly linked with age. Given the high-intensity exercise required in professional soccer, these conditions might result in the development of symptomatic lower back pain.