Changes in Shoulder and Lumbar Injury Incidence in Swimmers After Physical Examination and Exercise Programs.

Abstract

Background: Previous injury and physical examination data collected by a physiotherapist were reviewed to investigate the causes of injury among competitive swimmers. Each swimmer received an injury improvement exercise program based on their injury history and physical examination findings.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify trends in the number of shoulder and lumbar injuries and discern the effectiveness of exercise programs in swimmers. The authors hypothesize that these efforts would decrease injury rates.

Study design: Observational Cohort study.

Methods: Thirty-one male high school and college student swimmers underwent a physical examination. Previous injury was considered as pain that lasted for > three weeks or that caused the participant to stop practicing. A questionnaire was administered to all swimmers at the beginning of the study and one year later. The questionnaire assessed the number of injuries sustained and the daily practice hours over the previous year. The injury rate at the first examination and one-year followup was calculated as the number of injury incidents divided by the total number of player hours (1 h of practice is equivalent to 1) for one year, multiplied by 1,000 to obtain the injury rate per 1,000 hours (1000 player hours: 1,000 ph). Shoulder and hip exercise programs were prescribed based on measurement results and previous research.

Results: The numbers of injuries seen in the group were 12 shoulder and six lumbar at the first examination, and two shoulder and one lumbar at the one-year followup. The 1,000 ph (95% confidence interval) values were 0.32 (0.13-0.50) and 0.16 (0.03-0.29) at the first examination and 0.05 (0.00-0.12) and 0.03 (0.00-0.07) at the one-year followup for the shoulder and lumbar areas, respectively.

Conclusions: The results indicates that exercise programs prescribed after a physical examination may reduce the incidence of injuries in male swimmers over the course of a year.

Level of evidence: Level 3.