Search

Context: Shoulder pain is the main cause of missed or modified training in competitive swimmers. Exercise therapy can improve the outcomes, yet uncertainty exists regarding the characteristics of these interventions. Objectives: The primary aim was to describe the evidence base relating to the effectiveness of exercise therapy interventions on shoulder pain and shoulder musculoskeletal risk factors for shoulder pain in swimmers. The secondary aim was to identify gaps in the literature and provide recommendations for future research and practice. Evidence Acquisition: A scoping review methodology was applied through the search of MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases. The authors included any research studies (except clinical commentaries and conference papers) that assess the effect of exercise therapy on shoulder pain and musculoskeletal risk factors for shoulder pain in swimmers. The literature was critically appraised using the Modified Down and Black checklist. Evidence Synthesis: From 452 papers identified, 14 studies were included in this review. An exercise program of 6 to 8 weeks, including strengthening exercises (shoulder external rotator and scapula retractor muscles) and stretches (pectoral muscles), can decrease the incidence of shoulder pain in swimmers. Furthermore, a combination of exercises and stretches with manual therapy techniques can help to decrease shoulder pain in injured swimmers. Regarding risk factors, a strengthening program of more than 12 weeks increased shoulder external rotation peak force, endurance, and external rotation/ internal rotation ratio; however, this was not associated to decreases in pain. Finally, open kinetic chain exercises and a dry-land program are superior to close kinetic exercises and water training for improving shoulder external rotation strength and endurance. Conclusions: Exercise therapy has positive effects on reducing the incidence of shoulder pain, the management of shoulder pain, and improving shoulder musculoskeletal risk factors in competitive swimmers. However, due to methodological limitations of the studies, caution must be used when applying these results in practice. Future research should focus on high-quality randomized controlled trials for prevention and management of shoulder pain in swimmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shoulder pain is the main cause of missed or modified training in competitive swimmers. Shoulder musculoskeletal maladaptations occur to some extent as a consequence of training loads during swimming that may increase the risk of shoulder injury. Further evidence is needed to understand the training intensities at which these maladaptations occur. To determine the acute effect of training intensity on the shoulder musculoskeletal physical qualities associated with shoulder injury in competitive swimmers. Cross-sectional study. Indoor swimming pool. Sixteen asymptomatic national- and regional-level swimmers (7 females, 9 males; age = 14.6 ± 3.9 years, height = 160.5 ± 12.7 cm, mass = 55.3 ± 12.5 kg). Bilateral active shoulder-rotation range of motion (ROM), joint position sense, latissimus dorsi length, combined elevation test, and shoulder-rotation isometric peak torque and handgrip peak force normalized to body weight were measured before and immediately after low- and high-intensity swim-training sessions. The intensity of the sessions was determined by the distance swum over or at the pace threshold and confirmed by the swimmer's rating of perceived exertion. After the high-intensity training session, shoulder external-rotation ROM (dominant side: P <.001, change = −7.8°; d = 1.10; nondominant side: P =.002, change = −6.5°, d = 1.02), internal-rotator isometric peak torque (dominant side: P <.001, change = −11.4%, d = 0.42; nondominant side: P =.03, change = −6.6%, d = 0.20), and external-rotator isometric peak torque (dominant side: P =.004, change = −8.7%, d = 0.27; nondominant side: P =.02, change = −7.6%, d = 0.25) were reduced. No changes were found in any of the outcome measures after the low-intensity session. Shoulder active external-rotation ROM and rotation isometric peak torque were decreased immediately after a high-intensity training session, possibly increasing the risk of injury during subsequent training. Monitoring these variables may help practitioners adjust and manage training loads to decrease the risk of shoulder injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]