The Effect of Very High versus Very Low Sustained Loading on the Lower Back and Knees in Middle Life

Table 1

The Pfirrmann score for disc degeneration.

Grade	Structure	Distinction of nucleus and anulus	Signal intensity	Height of intervertebral disc
I	Homogeneous, bright white	Clear	Hyperintense, isointense to cerebrospinal fluid	Normal
II	Inhomogeneous with or without horizontal bands	Clear	Hyperintense, isointense to cerebrospinal fluid	Normal
III	Inhomogeneous, gray	Unclear	Intermediate	Normal to slightly decreased
IV	Inhomogeneous, gray to black	Lost	Intermediate to hypointense	Normal  to moderately decreased
V	Inhomogeneous, black	Lost	Hypointense	Collapsed  disc space