Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Sports Medicine
Published in: Sports Medicine 4/2016

01-04-2016 | Review Article

Can Exercise Positively Influence the Intervertebral Disc?

Authors: Daniel L. Belavý, Kirsten Albracht, Gert-Peter Bruggemann, Pieter-Paul A. Vergroesen, Jaap H. van Dieën

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 4/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

To better understand what kinds of sports and exercise could be beneficial for the intervertebral disc (IVD), we performed a review to synthesise the literature on IVD adaptation with loading and exercise. The state of the literature did not permit a systematic review; therefore, we performed a narrative review. The majority of the available data come from cell or whole-disc loading models and animal exercise models. However, some studies have examined the impact of specific sports on IVD degeneration in humans and acute exercise on disc size. Based on the data available in the literature, loading types that are likely beneficial to the IVD are dynamic, axial, at slow to moderate movement speeds, and of a magnitude experienced in walking and jogging. Static loading, torsional loading, flexion with compression, rapid loading, high-impact loading and explosive tasks are likely detrimental for the IVD. Reduced physical activity and disuse appear to be detrimental for the IVD. We also consider the impact of genetics and the likelihood of a ‘critical period’ for the effect of exercise in IVD development. The current review summarises the literature to increase awareness amongst exercise, rehabilitation and ergonomic professionals regarding IVD health and provides recommendations on future directions in research.
Literature
1.
Brickley-Parsons D, Glimcher MJ. Is the chemistry of collagen in intervertebral discs an expression of Wolff’s Law? A study of the human lumbar spine. Spine. 1984;9:148–63.PubMedCrossRef
2.
Vanharanta H. The intervertebral disc: a biologically active tissue challenging therapy. Ann Med. 1994;26:395–9.PubMedCrossRef
3.
Scott JE, Bosworth TR, Cribb AM, et al. The chemical morphology of age-related changes in human intervertebral disc glycosaminoglycans from cervical, thoracic and lumbar nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus. J Anat. 1994;184(Pt 1):73–82.PubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Marchand F, Ahmed AM. Investigation of the laminate structure of lumbar disc anulus fibrosus. Spine. 1990;15:402–10.PubMedCrossRef
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Katz MM, Hargens AR, Garfin SR. Intervertebral disc nutrition. Diffusion versus convection. Clin Orthop. 1986;210:243–5.PubMed
11.
Urban JP, Holm S, Maroudas A, et al. Nutrition of the intervertebral disc: effect of fluid flow on solute transport. Clin Orthop. 1982;170:296–302.PubMed
12.
Urban JP, Holm S, Maroudas A. Diffusion of small solutes into the intervertebral disc: as in vivo study. Biorheology. 1978;15:203–21.PubMed
13.
14.
Ohshima H, Tsuji H, Hirano N, et al. Water diffusion pathway, swelling pressure, and biomechanical properties of the intervertebral disc during compression load. Spine. 1989;14:1234–44.PubMedCrossRef
15.
16.
McMillan DW, Garbutt G, Adams MA. Effect of sustained loading on the water content of intervertebral discs: implications for disc metabolism. Ann Rheum Dis. 1996;55:880–7.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
17.
Arun R, Freeman BJC, Scammell BE, et al. 2009 ISSLS Prize Winner: what influence does sustained mechanical load have on diffusion in the human intervertebral disc?: an in vivo study using serial postcontrast magnetic resonance imaging. Spine. 2009;34:2324–37. doi:10.​1097/​BRS.​0b013e3181b4df92​.PubMedCrossRef
18.
19.
Ferguson SJ, Ito K, Nolte LP. Fluid flow and convective transport of solutes within the intervertebral disc. J Biomech. 2004;37:213–21.PubMedCrossRef
20.
De Puky P. The physiological oscillation of the length of the body. Acta Orthop. 1935;6:338–47.CrossRef
21.
22.
23.
24.
White TL, Malone TR. Effects of running on intervertebral disc height. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1990;12:139–46.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Boocock MG, Garbutt G, Linge K, et al. Changes in stature following drop jumping and post-exercise gravity inversion. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;22:385–90.PubMedCrossRef
26.
27.
28.
29.
Tyrrell AR, Reilly T, Troup JD. Circadian variation in stature and the effects of spinal loading. Spine. 1985;10:161–4.PubMedCrossRef
30.
31.
Malko JA, Hutton WC, Fajman WA. An in vivo magnetic resonance imaging study of changes in the volume (and fluid content) of the lumbar intervertebral discs during a simulated diurnal load cycle. Spine. 1999;24:1015–22.PubMedCrossRef
32.
Malko JA, Hutton WC, Fajiman WA. An in vivo study of the changes in volume (and fluid content) of the lumber intervertebral disc after overnight bed rest and during an 8-hour walking protocol. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2002;15:157–63.PubMedCrossRef
33.
Dimitriadis AT, Papagelopoulos PJ, Smith FW, et al. Intervertebral disc changes after 1 h of running: a study on athletes. J Int Med Res. 2011;39:569–79.PubMedCrossRef
34.
35.
Botsford DJ, Esses SI, Ogilvie-Harris DJ. In vivo diurnal variation in intervertebral disc volume and morphology. Spine. 1994;19:935–40.PubMedCrossRef
36.
Hellström M, Jacobsson B, Swärd L, et al. Radiologic abnormalities of the thoraco-lumbar spine in athletes. Acta Radiol. 1990;31:127–32.PubMedCrossRef
37.
Granhed H, Morelli B. Low back pain among retired wrestlers and heavyweight lifters. Am J Sports Med. 1988;16:530–3.PubMedCrossRef
38.
Swärd L, Hellstrom M, Jacobsson B, et al. Back pain and radiologic changes in the thoraco-lumbar spine of athletes. Spine. 1990;15:124–9.PubMedCrossRef
39.
40.
Brüggemann G-P, Krahl H. Belastungen und Risiken im weiblichen Kunstturnen. Teil 1, Aus der Sicht von Biomechanik und Sportmedizin [Loading and risks in female gymnasts. Part 1, biomechanics and sports medicine]. Schorndorf: Hofmann; 2000.
41.
42.
Videman T, Battié MC, Gibbons LE, et al. Lifetime exercise and disk degeneration: an MRI study of monozygotic twins. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;29:1350–6.PubMedCrossRef
43.
44.
Kraft CN, Pennekamp PH, Becker U, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of the lumbar spine in elite horseback riders: correlations with back pain, body mass index, trunk/leg-length coefficient, and riding discipline. Am J Sports Med. 2009;37:2205–13. doi:10.​1177/​0363546509336927​.PubMedCrossRef
45.
Bartolozzi C, Caramella D, Zampa V, et al. The incidence of disk changes in volleyball players. The magnetic resonance findings [in Italian]. Radiol Med. 1991;82:757–60.PubMed
46.
Goldstein JD, Berger PE, Windler GE, et al. Spine injuries in gymnasts and swimmers. An epidemiologic investigation. Am J Sports Med. 1991;19:463–8.PubMedCrossRef
47.
48.
49.
Videman T, Sarna S, Battié MC, et al. The long-term effects of physical loading and exercise lifestyles on back-related symptoms, disability, and spinal pathology among men. Spine. 1995;20:699–709.PubMedCrossRef
50.
Videman T, Nurminen M, Troup JD. 1990 Volvo Award in clinical sciences. Lumbar spinal pathology in cadaveric material in relation to history of back pain, occupation, and physical loading. Spine. 1990;15:728–40.PubMed
51.
Kordi M, Belavý DL, Armbrecht G, et al. Loss and re-adaptation of lumbar intervertebral disc water signal intensity after prolonged bedrest. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2015;15:294–300.PubMed
52.
53.
Adams MA, Hutton WC. Prolapsed intervertebral disc. A hyperflexion injury. 1981 Volvo Award in Basic Science. Spine. 1982;1982(7):184–91.CrossRef
54.
55.
Roaf R. A study of the mechanics of spinal injuries. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1960;42:810–23.
56.
57.
Holm S, Holm AK, Ekström L, et al. Experimental disc degeneration due to endplate injury. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2004;17:64–71.PubMedCrossRef
58.
59.
60.
61.
Holm S, Nachemson A. Variations in the nutrition of the canine intervertebral disc induced by motion. Spine. 1983;8:866–74.PubMedCrossRef
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
Puustjärvi K, Lammi M, Helminen H, et al. Proteoglycans in the intervertebral disc of young dogs following strenuous running exercise. Connect Tissue Res. 1994;30:225–40.PubMedCrossRef
67.
Puustjärvi K, Takala T, Wang W, et al. Enhanced prolylhydroxylase activity in the posterior annulus fibrosus of canine intervertebral discs following long-term running exercise. Eur Spine J. 1993;2:126–31.PubMedCrossRef
68.
Neufeld JH. Induced narrowing and back adaptation of lumbar intervertebral discs in biomechanically stressed rats. Spine. 1992;17:811–6.PubMedCrossRef
69.
Cassidy JD, Yong-Hing K, Kirkaldy-Willis WH, et al. A study of the effects of bipedism and upright posture on the lumbosacral spine and paravertebral muscles of the Wistar rat. Spine. 1988;13:301–8.PubMedCrossRef
70.
Higuchi M, Abe K, Kaneda K. Changes in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc in bipedal mice. A light and electron microscopic study. Clin Orthop. 1983;175:251–7.PubMed
71.
Yamada K. The dynamics of experimental posture. Experimental study of intervertebral disk herniation in bipedal animals. Clin Orthop. 1962;25:20–31.PubMed
72.
73.
Iatridis JC, MacLean JJ, Roughley PJ, et al. Effects of mechanical loading on intervertebral disc metabolism in vivo. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(Suppl 2):41–6.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
74.
Le Maitre CL, Frain J, Fotheringham AP, et al. Human cells derived from degenerate intervertebral discs respond differently to those derived from non-degenerate intervertebral discs following application of dynamic hydrostatic pressure. Biorheology. 2008;45:563–75.PubMed
75.
Wilke HJ, Neef P, Caimi M, et al. New in vivo measurements of pressures in the intervertebral disc in daily life. Spine. 1999;24:755–62.PubMedCrossRef
76.
77.
Elfering A, Semmer N, Birkhofer D, et al. Risk factors for lumbar disc degeneration: a 5-year prospective MRI study in asymptomatic individuals. Spine. 2002;27:125–34.PubMedCrossRef
78.
Yuan H-Y, Tang Y, Liang Y-X, et al. Matrix metalloproteinase-3 and vitamin d receptor genetic polymorphisms, and their interactions with occupational exposure in lumbar disc degeneration. J Occup Health. 2010;52:23–30.PubMedCrossRef
79.
80.
Kraemer J, Kolditz D, Gowin R. Water and electrolyte content of human intervertebral discs under variable load. Spine. 1985;10:69–71.PubMedCrossRef
81.
Koeller W, Muehlhaus S, Meier W, et al. Biomechanical properties of human intervertebral discs subjected to axial dynamic compression–influence of age and degeneration. J Biomech. 1986;19:807–16.PubMedCrossRef
82.
83.
84.
Luoma K, Vehmas T, Riihimäki H, et al. Disc height and signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus on magnetic resonance imaging as indicators of lumbar disc degeneration. Spine. 2001;26:680–6.PubMedCrossRef
85.
86.
MacKelvie KJ, Khan KM, McKay HA. Is there a critical period for bone response to weight-bearing exercise in children and adolescents? A systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2002;36:250–7 (discussion 257).PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
87.
Ledsome JR, Lessoway V, Susak LE, et al. Diurnal changes in lumbar intervertebral distance, measured using ultrasound. Spine. 1996;21:1671–5.PubMedCrossRef
88.
89.
VanTulder MW, Assendelft WJ, Koes BW, et al. Spinal radiographic findings and nonspecific low back pain. A systematic review of observational studies. Spine. 1997;22:427–34.CrossRef
90.
Boden SD, McCowin PR, Davis DO, et al. Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the cervical spine in asymptomatic subjects. A prospective investigation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1990;72:1178–84.PubMed
91.
Boden SD, Davis DO, Dina TS, et al. Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic subjects. A prospective investigation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1990;72:403–8.PubMed
92.
Vernon-Roberts B, Pirie CJ. Degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine and their sequelae. Rheumatol Rehabil. 1977;16:13–21.PubMedCrossRef
93.
Pfirrmann CW, Metzdorf A, Zanetti M, et al. Magnetic resonance classification of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine. 2001;26:1873–8.PubMedCrossRef
94.
Belavý DL, Armbrecht G, Gast U, et al. Countermeasures against lumbar spine deconditioning in prolonged bed-rest: resistive exercise with and without whole-body vibration. J Appl Physiol. 2010;109:1801–11.PubMedCrossRef
95.
An HS, Anderson PA, Haughton VM, et al. Introduction: disc degeneration: summary. Spine. 2004;29:2677–8.PubMedCrossRef
96.
Marinelli NL, Haughton VM, Munoz A, et al. T2 relaxation times of intervertebral disc tissue correlated with water content and proteoglycan content. Spine. 2009;34:520–4.PubMedCrossRef
97.
98.
Antoniou J, Pike GB, Steffen T, et al. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of degenerative disc disease. Magn Reson Med. 1998;40:900–7.PubMedCrossRef
99.
100.
101.
102.
103.
Rajasekaran S, Babu JN, Arun R, et al. ISSLS prize winner: a study of diffusion in human lumbar discs: a serial magnetic resonance imaging study documenting the influence of the endplate on diffusion in normal and degenerate discs. Spine. 2004;29:2654–67.PubMedCrossRef
104.
Nguyen-minh C, Haughton VM, Papke RA, et al. Measuring diffusion of solutes into intervertebral disks with MR imaging and paramagnetic contrast medium. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1998;19:1781–4.PubMed
Metadata
Title
Can Exercise Positively Influence the Intervertebral Disc?
Authors
Daniel L. Belavý
Kirsten Albracht
Gert-Peter Bruggemann
Pieter-Paul A. Vergroesen
Jaap H. van Dieën
Publication date
01-04-2016
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Sports Medicine / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0444-2

Other articles of this Issue 4/2016

Sports Medicine 4/2016 Go to the issue

Systematic Review

The Effects of Ischemic Preconditioning on Human Exercise Performance

Current Opinion

Endurance Exercise and the Heart: Friend or Foe?

Systematic Review

At What Age Do Children and Adolescents Develop Lower Limb Tendon Pathology or Tendinopathy? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Original Research Article

Cross-Sectional Association Between Normal-Range Lactate Dehydrogenase, Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score

Erratum

Erratum to: Effect of Training Leading to Repetition Failure on Muscular Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Systematic Review

Can Water Temperature and Immersion Time Influence the Effect of Cold Water Immersion on Muscle Soreness? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis