Table 3 MRI findings of the patients

Normal lumbar vertebral alignment

N = 157

Yes

142

90.4

No

15

9.6

Intervertebral disc desiccation

N = 157

Yes

65

41.4

No

92

58.6

Level of intervertebral disc desiccation

N = 65

T12/L1

2

3.1

L1/L2

6

9.2

L2/L3

11

16.9

L3/L4

17

26.2

L4/L5

43

66.2

L5/S1

49

75.4

Intervertebral disc bulge

N = 157

Yes

49

31.2

No

108

68.8

Level of intervertebral disc bulge

N = 49

L1/L2

34

69.2

L2/L3

36

73.1

L3/L4

40

81.3

L4/L5

48

98.7

L5/S1

49

100

Severity of disc bulge

N = 49

L1/L2

 Mild

48

98.7

 Moderate

1

0.7

 Severe

1

0.7

L2/L3

 Mild

47

96.1

 Moderate

1

2.6

 Severe

1

1.3

L3/L4

 Mild

34

70.6

 Moderate

13

26.1

 Severe

02

3.3

L4/L5

 Mild

10

20.3

 Moderate

20

41.2

 Severe

18

38.6

L5/S1

 Mild

08

16.3

 Moderate

18

37.3

 Severe

23

46.4

Schmorl’s node

N = 157

Yes

16

10.2

No

141

89.8

Schmorl’s node position

N = 16

Anterior

8

50

 T12

1

12.5

 L1

2

25.0

 L2

1

12.5

 L5

4

50.0

Posterior

8

50

 L2

2

12.5

 L3

3

37.5

 L5

3

37.5

Spinal canal narrowing

N = 15

Mild

12

81.5

Moderate

02

14.0

Severe

01

4.5

Nerve root compression

N = 157

Yes

39

25

No

118

75

Nerve root compression

N = 39

Bilateral

30

76.1

Unilateral

09

23.9

Marginal osteophytes

N = 157

Yes

50

31.8

No

107

68.2

Levels of marginal osteophytes

N = 50

L1

21

42.0

L2

34

68.0

L3

42

84.0

L4

40

80.0

L5

40

80.0