{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]],"date-time":"2026-08-05T01:07:00Z","timestamp":1785892020590,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J R Army Med Corps"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2003,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Parachuting, be it static line or skydiving, places enormous stresses on the human spine. It is, therefore, important to determine the prevalence and severity of degenerative changes in the lumbar spine of subjects who practice this sport activity.<\/jats:p><jats:p>Seventy four parachuting instructors, mean age 33 years and with an average of 410 static line and skydiving jumps, were included in the study. Past radiographs were examined and compared to current anterolateral and lateral views of the lumbar spine, in order to determine the prevalence of degenerative changes and document possible progression.<\/jats:p><jats:p>Doubtful radiographic changes in the lumbar spine were identified in 47.4 percent of the parachuting instructors, mild degeneration in 9.6 percent, moderate degenerative disease in 10.9 percent and severe radiographic changes in 5.5 percent. Schmorll nodes were found in 8.1 percent of the subjects. Traction spurs - osteophytes were identified in 6.8 percent. The degenerative changes correlated with age and the number of jumps. Spondylolysis of L5-S1 and L3- L4 segments were observed in 12.2 and 1.4 percent respectively. Progressive spondylolisthesis was found in 2 subjects.<\/jats:p><jats:p>No correlation was found between the severity of radiographic changes and either the prevalence and the severity of low back pain.<\/jats:p><jats:p>The present findings provide a rational for considering repeated sheer stress as an etiology of degenerative changes in the spinal cord, and as a possible contributing factor to the pathogenesis of spondylolysis.<\/jats:p><jats:p>Further study has to be done comparing parachuting instructors to a nonparachuting group, or equivalent physically active individuals, in order to assess the effect of sport-background on the development of degenerative changes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/jramc-149-04-03","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2013,3,19]],"date-time":"2013-03-19T23:43:32Z","timestamp":1363736612000},"page":"260-264","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Degenerative Disease In Lumbar Spine Of Military Parachuting Instructors"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"149","author":[{"given":"Yosefa","family":"Bar-Dayan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Moshe","family":"Weisbort","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yaron","family":"Bar-Dayan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gad J","family":"Velan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mordchai","family":"Ravid","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Hendel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joshua","family":"Shemer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2003,12,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.1177\/036354658301100508","article-title":"Roentgenographic skeletal injury patterns in parachute jumping","volume":"11","author":"Petras, A.F.; Hoffman, E.P.","year":"1983","unstructured":"Petras AF, Hoffman EP. Roentgenographic skeletal injury patterns in parachute jumping. Am J Sports Med 1983;11:325-328.","journal-title":"Am J Sports Med"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"17","article-title":"A prospective study of parachute injuries in civilians","volume":"69","author":"Amamilo, S.C.; Samuel, A.W.; Hesketh, K.T.; Moynihan, F.J.","year":"1987","unstructured":"Amamilo SC, Samuel AW, Hesketh KT, Moynihan FJ. A prospective study of parachute injuries in civilians. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 1987;69:17-19.","journal-title":"J Bone Joint Surg [Br]"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.21.1.13","article-title":"Parachuting injuries: a study of 110,000 sports jumps","volume":"21","author":"Ellitsgaard, N.","year":"1987","unstructured":"Ellitsgaard N. Parachuting injuries: a study of 110,000 sports jumps. Br J Sports Med 1987;21:13-17.","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1002\/bjs.18003413302","article-title":"The hazards of parachuting","volume":"34","author":"Essex-Lopresti, P.","year":"1946","unstructured":"Essex-Lopresti P. The hazards of parachuting. Br J Surg 1946;34:1-13.","journal-title":"Br J Surg"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"209","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1445-2197.1992.tb05465.x","article-title":"Military static line parachute injuries","volume":"62","author":"Farrow, G.B.","year":"1992","unstructured":"Farrow GB. Military static line parachute injuries. Aust N Z J Surg 1992;62:209-214.","journal-title":"Aust N Z J Surg"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"687","DOI":"10.1093\/milmed\/156.12.687","article-title":"Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in military parachutists","volume":"156","author":"Kirkpatrick, A.W.; Smallman, T.V.","year":"1991","unstructured":"Kirkpatrick AW, Smallman TV. Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in military parachutists. Mil Med 1991;156:687-690.","journal-title":"Mil Med"},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"299","article-title":"Severe parachuting accident. Analysis of 122 cases","volume-title":"Unfallchirurg","volume":"96","author":"Krauss, U.; Mischkowsky, T.","year":"1993","unstructured":"Krauss U, Mischkowsky T. Severe parachuting accident. Analysis of 122 cases. Unfallchirurg 1993;96:299-304."},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"823","article-title":"Permanent changes in the spines of military parachutists","volume":"49","author":"Mustajoki, P.; Nummi, J.; Meurman, K.","year":"1978","unstructured":"Mustajoki P, Nummi J, Meurman K. Permanent changes in the spines of military parachutists. Aviat Space Environ Med 1978;49:823-826.","journal-title":"Aviat Space Environ Med"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1048","DOI":"10.2106\/00004623-198466070-00011","article-title":"Spine radiographs in patients with low-back pain. An epidemiological study in men","volume":"66","author":"Frymoyer, J.W.; Newberg, A.; Pope, M.H.; Wilder, D.G.; Clements, J.; MacPherson, B.","year":"1984","unstructured":"Frymoyer JW, Newberg A, Pope MH, Wilder DG, Clements J, MacPherson B. Spine radiographs in patients with low-back pain. An epidemiological study in men. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1984;66:1048-1055.","journal-title":"J Bone Joint Surg [Am]"},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"91","article-title":"Medical aspects of military parachuting","volume-title":"Mil Surg","volume":"108","author":"Neel, S.H.","year":"1951","unstructured":"Neel SH. Medical aspects of military parachuting. Mil Surg 1951;108:91-105."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"1207","article-title":"Acceleration and opening shock forces during freefall parachuting: physiological studies of military parachutists via FM-FM telemetry.3","volume":"42","author":"Reid, D.H.; Doerr, J.E.; Doshier, H.D.; Ellertson, D.G.","year":"1971","unstructured":"Reid DH, Doerr JE, Doshier HD, Ellertson DG. Acceleration and opening shock forces during freefall parachuting: physiological studies of military parachutists via FM-FM telemetry.3. Aerospac Med 1971;42:1207-1212.","journal-title":"Aerospac Med"},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"726","article-title":"Some factors influencing spinal injuries in seat ejected pilots","volume":"34","author":"Laurell, L.; Nachemson, A.","year":"1963","unstructured":"Laurell L, Nachemson A. Some factors influencing spinal injuries in seat ejected pilots. Aerspace Med 1963;34:726-729.","journal-title":"Aerspace Med"},{"key":"ref_13","article-title":"The epidemiology of spinal disorders","volume-title":"The Adult Spine, Principles and Practice","author":"Andersson, G.B.J.","year":"1991","unstructured":"Andersson GBJ. The epidemiology of spinal disorders in: Frymoyer J.W. ed. The Adult Spine, Principles and Practice. Raven Press. New York 1991."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1097\/00007632-199401000-00003","article-title":"Spina bifida occulta of S1 is not an innocent finding","volume":"19","author":"Avrahami, E.; Frishman, E.; Fridman, Z.; Azor, M.","year":"1994","unstructured":"Avrahami E, Frishman E, Fridman Z, Azor M. Spina bifida occulta of S1 is not an innocent finding. Spine 1994;19:12-15.","journal-title":"Spine"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1097\/00007632-198101000-00005","article-title":"The incidence of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in nonambulatory patients","volume":"6","author":"Rosenberg, N.J.; Bargar, W.L.; Friedman, B.","year":"1981","unstructured":"Rosenberg NJ, Bargar WL, Friedman B. The incidence of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in nonambulatory patients. Spine 1981;6:35-38.","journal-title":"Spine"},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"104","article-title":"Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in young athletes: 28 cases","volume":"28","author":"Comandre, F.A.","year":"1988","unstructured":"Comandre FA. Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in young athletes: 28 cases. J Sports Med 1988;28:104-107.","journal-title":"J Sports Med"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"172","DOI":"10.1097\/00007632-198103000-00012","article-title":"Significance of lumbar spondylolysis in college football players","volume":"6","author":"Semon, R.L.; Spengler, D.","year":"1981","unstructured":"Semon RL, Spengler D. Significance of lumbar spondylolysis in college football players. Spine 1981;6:172-174.","journal-title":"Spine"},{"key":"ref_18","article-title":"GD: Practical Orthopaedic Medicine: Spondylolysis","author":"Corrigan, B.C.; Maitland","year":"1987","unstructured":"Corrigan BC, Maitland GD: Practical Orthopaedic Medicine: Spondylolysis. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press, 1987."},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"14","article-title":"Newman PH: Spondylolisthesis","volume":"60","year":"1974","unstructured":"Newman PH: Spondylolisthesis. Physiotherapy 1974; 60:14-16.","journal-title":"Physiotherapy"},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"72","article-title":"MG: Spondylolysis following trauma","volume":"166","author":"Klinghoffer, L.; Murdock","year":"1981","unstructured":"Klinghoffer L, Murdock MG: Spondylolysis following trauma. Clin Orthop 1981; 166: 72-74.","journal-title":"Clin Orthop"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.1097\/00003086-198805000-00016","article-title":"Acute traumatic spondylolysis. Report of a case and review of the literature","volume":"230","author":"Cope, R.","year":"1988","unstructured":"Cope R. Acute traumatic spondylolysis. Report of a case and review of the literature. Clin Orthop 1988;230:162-165.","journal-title":"Clin Orthop"},{"key":"ref_22","article-title":"Principles of Orthopaedic Practice: Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis","author":"Dee, R.","year":"1982","unstructured":"Dee R. Principles of Orthopaedic Practice: Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis. New York, McGraw Hill, 1982."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"23","article-title":"Classification of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis","volume":"117","author":"Wiltse, L.L.; Newman, P.H.; Macnab, I.","year":"1976","unstructured":"Wiltse LL, Newman PH, Macnab I. Classification of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. Clin Orthop 1976;117:23-29.","journal-title":"Clin Orthop"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1097\/01241398-198601000-00009","article-title":"Fracture of the pars interarticularis in adolescent athletes: a clinical-biomechanical analysis","volume":"6","author":"Letts, M.; Smallman, T.; Afanasiev, R.; Gouw, G.","year":"1986","unstructured":"Letts M, Smallman T, Afanasiev R, Gouw G. Fracture of the pars interarticularis in adolescent athletes: a clinical-biomechanical analysis. J Pediatr Orthop 1986;6:40-46.","journal-title":"J Pediatr Orthop"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.16.3.135","article-title":"An aetiological study on spondylolysis from a biomechanical aspect","volume":"16","author":"Ichikawa, N.; Ohara, Y.; Morishita, T.; Taniguichi, Y.; Koshikawa, A.; Matsukura, N.","year":"1982","unstructured":"Ichikawa N, Ohara Y, Morishita T, Taniguichi Y, Koshikawa A, Matsukura N. An aetiological study on spondylolysis from a biomechanical aspect. Br J Sports Med 1982;16:135-141.","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"70","article-title":"Lumbosacral pain symptoms in parachutists","volume":"2","author":"Aleksejev, A.P.","year":"1971","unstructured":"Aleksejev AP. Lumbosacral pain symptoms in parachutists. Voennomed J 1971;2:70-71.","journal-title":"Voennomed J"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"539","DOI":"10.2106\/00004623-196244030-00011","article-title":"The etiology of spondylolisthesis","volume":"44","author":"Wiltse, L.L.","year":"1962","unstructured":"Wiltse LL. The etiology of spondylolisthesis. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1962;44:539-560.","journal-title":"J Bone Joint Surg [Am]"},{"key":"ref_28","first-page":"68","article-title":"Spondylolysis in the female gymnast","volume":"117","author":"Jackson, D.W.; Wiltse, L.L.; CirincoIne, R.J.","year":"1976","unstructured":"Jackson DW, Wiltse LL, CirincoIne RJ. Spondylolysis in the female gymnast. Clin Orthop 1976;117:68-73.","journal-title":"Clin Orthop"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.6.1.4","article-title":"Studies of spondylolysis found among weightlifters","volume":"6","author":"Kotani, P.T.; Ichikawa, N.; Wakabayashi, W.; Yoshii, T.; Koshimune, M.","year":"1971","unstructured":"Kotani PT, Ichikawa N, Wakabayashi W, Yoshii T, Koshimune M. Studies of spondylolysis found among weightlifters. Br J Sports Med 1971;6:4-12.","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"421","article-title":"Spinal abnormalities in young fast bowlers","volume":"74","author":"Hardcastle, P.; Annear, P.; Foster, D.H.; Chakera, T.M.; McCormick, C.; Khangure, M.; Burnett, A.","year":"1992","unstructured":"Hardcastle P, Annear P, Foster DH, Chakera TM, McCormick C, Khangure M, Burnett A. Spinal abnormalities in young fast bowlers. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 1992;74:421-425.","journal-title":"J Bone Joint Surg [Br]"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1302\/0301-620X.45B1.39","article-title":"The aetiology of spondylolisthesis","volume":"45","author":"Newman, P.H.","year":"1963","unstructured":"Newman PH. The aetiology of spondylolisthesis. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 1963;45:39-59.","journal-title":"J Bone Joint Surg [Br]"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1097\/00007632-198101000-00005","article-title":"The incidence of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in nonambulatory patients","volume":"6","author":"Rosenberg, N.J.; Bargar, W.L.; Friedman, B.","year":"1981","unstructured":"Rosenberg NJ, Bargar WL, Friedman B. The incidence of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in nonambulatory patients. Spine 1981;6:35-38.","journal-title":"Spine"},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"11","article-title":"Age changes and variability in gibbons. A morphological study on a population sample of man-like ape","volume":"2","author":"Schults, A.","year":"1944","unstructured":"Schults A. Age changes and variability in gibbons. A morphological study on a population sample of man-like ape. Am J Phys Anthropol 1944;2:11-20.","journal-title":"Am J Phys Anthropol"},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"215231","article-title":"The strength of the neural arch and the etiology of spondylolysis","volume":"6","author":"Lamy, C.; Bazergui, A.; Kraus, H.; Farfan, H.F.","year":"1975","unstructured":"Lamy C, Bazergui A, Kraus H, Farfan HF. The strength of the neural arch and the etiology of spondylolysis. Orthop Clin North Am 1975;6:215231.","journal-title":"Orthop Clin North Am"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"462","DOI":"10.1302\/0301-620X.58B4.1018032","article-title":"Spondylolytic fractures","volume":"58","author":"Cyron, B.M.; Hutton, W.C.; Troup, J.D.","year":"1976","unstructured":"Cyron BM, Hutton WC, Troup JD. Spondylolytic fractures. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 1976;58:462-466.","journal-title":"J Bone Joint Surg [Br]"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2683","DOI":"10.1097\/00007632-199412000-00016","article-title":"Spondylolysis Bending of the inferior articular processes of lumbar vertebrae during simulated spinal movements","volume":"19","author":"Green, T.P.; Allvey, J.C.; Adams, M.A.","year":"1994","unstructured":"Green TP, Allvey JC, Adams MA. Spondylolysis Bending of the inferior articular processes of lumbar vertebrae during simulated spinal movements. Spine 1994;19:2683-2691.","journal-title":"Spine"},{"issue":"21","key":"ref_37","first-page":"156","article-title":"Spondylolisthesis in children","volume":"1961","author":"Wiltse, L.L.","unstructured":"Wiltse LL. Spondylolisthesis in children. Clin Orthop 1961;21:156-163.","journal-title":"Clin Orthop"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"332","DOI":"10.1136\/ard.36.4.332","article-title":"The spine in sport and veteran military parachutists","volume":"36","author":"Murray-Leslie, C.F.; Lintott, J.; Wright, V.","year":"1977","unstructured":"Murray-Leslie CF, Lintott J,Wright V.The spine in sport and veteran military parachutists. Ann Rheum Dis 1977;36:332-342.","journal-title":"Ann Rheum Dis"},{"issue":"28","key":"ref_39","first-page":"121","article-title":"Disc degeneration. Its frequency and relation to symptoms","volume":"1969","author":"Lawrence, J.S.","unstructured":"Lawrence JS. Disc degeneration. Its frequency and relation to symptoms. Ann Rheum Dis 1969; 28: 121-138.","journal-title":"Ann Rheum Dis"}],"container-title":["Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/jramc-149-04-03","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,23]],"date-time":"2024-05-23T19:18:12Z","timestamp":1716491892000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/militaryhealth.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/jramc-149-04-03"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2003,12]]},"references-count":39,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2003,12,1]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2003,12]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/jramc-149-04-03"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/jramc-149-04-03","relation":{},"ISSN":["0035-8665","2052-0468"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0035-8665","type":"print"},{"value":"2052-0468","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2003,12]]}}}