Hypermobility of joints in adolescent swimmers

Joint hypermobility (JH) can be an advantage in many sports. On the other hand, it can also be one of the risk factors for developing pain or injury. The objective of the study was to compare JH diagnostic methods in adolescent swimmers, to locate the most common position of JH and assess its effect...

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Main Authors: Weronika Sawicka, Anna Ogonowska-Slodownik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego 2025-03-01
Series:Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://wnus.usz.edu.pl/cejssm/en/issue/1468/article/20613/
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author Weronika Sawicka
Anna Ogonowska-Slodownik
author_facet Weronika Sawicka
Anna Ogonowska-Slodownik
author_sort Weronika Sawicka
collection DOAJ
description Joint hypermobility (JH) can be an advantage in many sports. On the other hand, it can also be one of the risk factors for developing pain or injury. The objective of the study was to compare JH diagnostic methods in adolescent swimmers, to locate the most common position of JH and assess its effect on swimming performance. This was a diagnostic study. The study group comprised of 40 adolescent swimmers (20 female and 20 male) aged 13-18 years. Three diagnostic methods were used to assess joint hypermobility: Beighton score (BS), Sachse’s criteria (SC), modified by Kapandji, and the Grahame and Hakim questionnaire (GHQ). In addition, questionnaire designed for the study was also applied. Joint hypermobility was identified in 62.5% of the swimmers by the BS, 22.5% by the SC and 57.5% by the GHQ. In addition, 75% of the swimmers indicated joint pain in the shoulder. JH was most often localized in knee joints regardless of the method used. Based on the results of the BS and GHQ and the level of athletes' sports performance, higher sports performance was associated with more frequent occurrence of JH. A diagnosis of JH in swimmers is influenced by the method so there is a need for unified diagnostic criteria for JH in this group. In adolescent swimmers, JH is more common in large limb joints, and appears to contribute to better results.
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publisher Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego
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spelling doaj-art-d19aa15351b341ef886fe0a5220f284f2025-08-20T02:41:10ZengWydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu SzczecińskiegoCentral European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine2300-97052025-03-014810.18276/cej.2025.4-01Hypermobility of joints in adolescent swimmersWeronika Sawicka0Anna Ogonowska-Slodownik1Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, PolandJózef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandJoint hypermobility (JH) can be an advantage in many sports. On the other hand, it can also be one of the risk factors for developing pain or injury. The objective of the study was to compare JH diagnostic methods in adolescent swimmers, to locate the most common position of JH and assess its effect on swimming performance. This was a diagnostic study. The study group comprised of 40 adolescent swimmers (20 female and 20 male) aged 13-18 years. Three diagnostic methods were used to assess joint hypermobility: Beighton score (BS), Sachse’s criteria (SC), modified by Kapandji, and the Grahame and Hakim questionnaire (GHQ). In addition, questionnaire designed for the study was also applied. Joint hypermobility was identified in 62.5% of the swimmers by the BS, 22.5% by the SC and 57.5% by the GHQ. In addition, 75% of the swimmers indicated joint pain in the shoulder. JH was most often localized in knee joints regardless of the method used. Based on the results of the BS and GHQ and the level of athletes' sports performance, higher sports performance was associated with more frequent occurrence of JH. A diagnosis of JH in swimmers is influenced by the method so there is a need for unified diagnostic criteria for JH in this group. In adolescent swimmers, JH is more common in large limb joints, and appears to contribute to better results.https://wnus.usz.edu.pl/cejssm/en/issue/1468/article/20613/range of motionswimminghypermobility
spellingShingle Weronika Sawicka
Anna Ogonowska-Slodownik
Hypermobility of joints in adolescent swimmers
Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine
range of motion
swimming
hypermobility
title Hypermobility of joints in adolescent swimmers
title_full Hypermobility of joints in adolescent swimmers
title_fullStr Hypermobility of joints in adolescent swimmers
title_full_unstemmed Hypermobility of joints in adolescent swimmers
title_short Hypermobility of joints in adolescent swimmers
title_sort hypermobility of joints in adolescent swimmers
topic range of motion
swimming
hypermobility
url https://wnus.usz.edu.pl/cejssm/en/issue/1468/article/20613/
work_keys_str_mv AT weronikasawicka hypermobilityofjointsinadolescentswimmers
AT annaogonowskaslodownik hypermobilityofjointsinadolescentswimmers