{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T14:13:25Z","timestamp":1785507205474,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785456000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent among dentists, although the relationship between lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and symptoms remains unclear. This study aimed to identify lumbar MRI-derived structural profiles in actively practicing dentists and to examine their relationship with LBP, pain-related disability, demographic characteristics, occupational factors, and individual MRI findings. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 57 actively practicing dentists. Demographic, occupational, and clinical data were collected, and lumbar MRI examinations were performed using standardized protocols. MRI findings included disc bulging, disc herniation, annular fissure, Modic changes, osteophytes, facet joint degeneration, and spinal canal stenosis. Cluster analysis was used to identify MRI-derived structural profiles. Associations between profiles, LBP, disability, demographic characteristics, occupational factors, and individual MRI findings were assessed using chi-square tests and correspondence analysis. Results: Two distinct MRI-derived structural profiles were identified: a disc\u2013facet degenerative profile (n = 38) and a non-osseous degeneration profile (n = 19). Disc bulging (100% vs. 52.6%, p &lt; 0.001), facet joint degeneration (94.7% vs. 10.5%, p &lt; 0.001), and osteophytes (23.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.022) significantly contributed to profile differentiation, whereas disc herniation, Modic changes, and annular fissure did not. Neither MRI-derived profile was associated with the presence of LBP or pain-related disability (p &gt; 0.05). Younger dentists were more frequently classified within the disc\u2013facet degenerative profile with LBP, whereas older dentists with similar structural findings were more commonly classified within the same profile without LBP (p = 0.007). No significant associations were observed between MRI-derived profiles and occupational characteristics. Conclusions: Two distinct lumbar MRI-derived structural profiles were identified in dentists, but neither was associated with LBP or pain-related disability. Age appeared to influence the clinical expression of the disc\u2013facet degenerative profile, suggesting that lumbar MRI findings should be interpreted within a broader, age-sensitive clinical context rather than as isolated determinants of symptoms.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics16152421","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T13:23:20Z","timestamp":1785504200000},"page":"2421","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Lumbar Magnetic Resonance Imaging Profiles and Their Association with Low Back Pain in Dentists: A Cluster Analysis Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Ana","family":"Lopez-Morales","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Stomatology, Radiology and Physical Medicine, University of Murcia, 30008 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5547-5407","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Germ\u00e1n","family":"C\u00e1novas-Ambit","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain"},{"name":"Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6411-1373","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aitor","family":"Ba\u00f1o-Alcaraz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain"},{"name":"Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Manuel","family":"L\u00f3pez-Nicol\u00e1s","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Stomatology, Radiology and Physical Medicine, University of Murcia, 30008 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francesc","family":"Medina-Mirapeix","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain"},{"name":"Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3063-2693","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"J. A.","family":"Garc\u00eda-Vidal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain"},{"name":"Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"968","DOI":"10.1136\/annrheumdis-2013-204428","article-title":"The global burden of low back pain: Estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study","volume":"73","author":"Hoy","year":"2014","journal-title":"Ann. Rheum. 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