Prevalence of MRI findings among pilots and controls
| Finding | Baseline | Follow-up | ||||||||||
| C2/3 | C3/4 | C4/5 | C5/6 | C6/7 | C7/Th1 | C2/3 | C3/4 | C4/5 | C5/6 | C6/7 | C7/Th1 | |
| Pilots | ||||||||||||
| Pfirrmann grade | ||||||||||||
| ≤2 | 69.6 (39) | 48.2 (27) | 66.1 (37) | 60.7 (34) | 89.3 (50) | 92.9 (52) | 48.2 (27) | 32.1 (18) | 35.7 (20) | 28.6 (16) | 53.6 (30) | 87.5 (49) |
| 3 | 30.4 (17) | 51.8 (29) | 33.9 (19) | 37.5 (21) | 10.7 (6) | 5.4 (3) | 51.8 (29) | 66.1 (37) | 62.5 (35) | 55.4 (31) | 39.3 (22) | 12.5 (7) |
| ≥4 | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 1.8 (1) | 16.1 (9) | 7.1 (4) | 0.0 (0) |
| Disc herniation | 1.8 (1) | 3.6 (2) | 3.6 (2) | 5.4 (3) | 8.9 (5) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 7.1 (4) | 3.6 (2) | 26.8 (15) | 7.1 (4) | 0.0 (0) |
| Uncovertebral arthrosis | 1.8 (1) | 8.9 (5) | 1.8 (1) | 7.1 (4) | 5.4 (3) | 1.8 (1) | 1.8 (1) | 14.3 (8) | 3.6 (2) | 8.9 (5) | 5.4 (3) | 0.0 (0) |
| Schmorl’s node | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 3.6 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) |
| Modic change | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 1.8 (1) | 0.0 (0) |
| Spinal canal stenosis | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 7.1 (4) | 1.8 (1) | 0.0 (0) |
| Kyphosis | 30.4 (17) | 21.4 (12) | ||||||||||
| Scoliosis | 3.6 (2) | 3.6 (2) | ||||||||||
| Controls | ||||||||||||
| Pfirrmann grade | ||||||||||||
| ≤2 | 66.1 (37) | 58.9 (33) | 58.9 (33) | 44.6 (25) | 64.3 (36) | 83.9 (47) | 45.5 (25) | 34.5 (19) | 38.2 (21) | 27.3 (15) | 50.9 (28) | 76.4 (42) |
| 3 | 33.9 (19) | 33.9 (19) | 41.1 (23) | 46.4 (26) | 32.1 (18) | 16.1 (9) | 50.9 (28) | 54.5 (30) | 54.5 (30) | 56.4 (31) | 45.5 (25) | 23.6 (13) |
| ≥4 | 0.0 (0) | 7.1 (4) | 0.0 (0) | 8.9 (5) | 3.6 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 3.6 (2) | 10.9 (6) | 7.3 (4) | 16.4 (9) | 3.6 (2) | 0.0 (0) |
| Disc herniation | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 3.6 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 3.6 (2) | 12.5 (7) | 7.1 (4) | 0.0 (0) |
| Uncovertebral arthrosis | 0.0 (0) | 3.6 (2) | 3.6 (2) | 8.9 (5) | 7.1 (4) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 3.6 (2) | 5.5 (3) | 7.3 (4) | 0.0 (0) |
| Schmorl’s node | 1.8 (1) | 1.8 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 5.4 (3) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) |
| Modic change | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 1.8 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) |
| Spinal canal stenosis | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 3.6 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (1) | 3.6 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) |
| Kyphosis | 30.4 (17) | 23.2 (13) | ||||||||||
| Scoliosis | 3.6 (2) | 1.8 (1) | ||||||||||
The values are percentages (number of findings per individual) with frequencies (number of findings at each cervical level).