3/24/2019 1 Evaluating swimmers for sport readiness: What measures are important? Kathy Wayman, PT, DPT, SCS Co-authors: Pintar JA, Briggs MS, Schlueter KR Swimming is complicated! Musculoskeletal injuries in swimmers are often multifactorial o Mobility • Joint ROM • Muscle extensibility o Strength/endurance o Static/dynamic movement Unique training environment o Anti-gravity o Water as a barrier • visibility • auditory o High training volume Injuries in Swimming Increased injury risk in freestyle swimmers have been associated with asymmetries in: o Upper extremity (UE) strength (Butler 2017; Tate 2012; Batalha 2013) o Shoulder range of motion (ROM) (Ozcaldiran 2002; Su 2004; Thomas 2009; Walker 2012) o Thoracic rotation (Feijen 2018; Micheli 2016) o Body roll (Psycharakis 2011; Psycharakis 2010; Payton 1999) Injury incidence in swimmers: o Shoulder injury • 41-91% out of 80 young swimmers (13- 25 years old) reported episodes of pain (Tate 2012; Wanivenhaus 2012; Pink 2000) o Knee injury • most prevalent in breaststroke swimmers (5x more likely) • (Wanivenhaus 2012; Rodeo 1999) o Back injury • 68% of elite swimmers • 29% of recreational swimmers (Capaci 2002; Wanivenhaus 2012) 1 2 3