Shoulder Pain in Competitive Swimmers: A Multi-Site Survey Study
# Background There are 2.8 million youth competitive swimmers in the United States (US), and shoulder pain is the most common complaint among swimmers. # Purpose To determine prevalence of shoulder pain, disability, and dissatisfaction in youth competitive swimmers. A secondary purpose was to det...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
North American Sports Medicine Institute
2024-08-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.121114 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | # Background
There are 2.8 million youth competitive swimmers in the United States (US), and shoulder pain is the most common complaint among swimmers.
# Purpose
To determine prevalence of shoulder pain, disability, and dissatisfaction in youth competitive swimmers. A secondary purpose was to determine influence of age, competitive swimming experience, and previous history of shoulder pain or injury on shoulder pain, disability, and dissatisfaction, and finally to determine if sex, geographic area, and participation in a second sport relate to shoulder pain, disability, and dissatisfaction.
# Study Design
Multi-site cross-sectional design
# Methods
Six-hundred and seventy-one swimmers aged 9–17 years from six states in the US completed surveys which included demographics, the Penn Shoulder Score (PSS), and the Disability of Arm Shoulder Hand (DASH) Sports. Independent t-tests were used to compare pain, disability, dissatisfaction, the influence of age, sex, participation in second sport, geographic region, and history of shoulder pain. Linear regression analyses were performed to determine the interaction of these variables with reported pain and disability.
# Results
Forty-nine percent of swimmers had shoulder symptoms. Greater shoulder pain and disability were reported in 15 to 17-year-olds compared to 9 to 10-year-olds (pain and disability: p<0.001), in swimmers with greater versus less years of experience (pain and disability: p<0.001), and in swimmers from eastern versus western states (pain: p=0.001, disability: p=0.0014). Swimmers not participating in a second sport had higher shoulder dissatisfaction (p=0.002). History of prior shoulder pain/traumatic injury was the best indicator of increased pain, disability, and dissatisfaction (p<0.001).
# Conclusion
Almost half of swimmers surveyed had shoulder pain, with a higher prevalence found in older age groups, those with greater experience, and in those with prior shoulder pain or traumatic injury. Further research should investigate shoulder pain prevention programs, and surveillance methods are recommended to identify symptomatic swimmers who may benefit from referral to prevent further pain and disability.
# Level of Evidence
III |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2159-2896 |