Evaluation of spine MRIs in athletes participating in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Background/aim: In high-level Olympic athletes, many spinal pathologies arise from overuse, while others are the result of acute injury. Our aim is to analyse the epidemiology of spinal pathologies detected on MRI in athletes participating in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.

Methods: In this retrospective study, all spine MRIs performed during the 2016 Rio Games were analysed.