Scapular Kinematics of Young Swimmers

Scapular Kinematics of Asymptomatic Young Swimmers During Dynamic Shoulder Elevation

The aim of this study was to (a) compare the scapular kinematics of asymptomatic swimmers and healthy non-athletes and to (b) compare the scapular kinematics of the dominant and non-dominant shoulders in asymptomatic young swimmers.

This cross-sectional study included 27 volunteered asymptomatic young swimmers (mean age: 12.7 yrs) with at least 3 years of experience in a professional swimming club and 22 healthy non-athletes (mean age: 11.5 yrs). 3D scapular kinematics were evaluated at 0°, 30º, 60º, 90º, and 120º with the electromagnetic tracking system during bilateral arm elevation and lowering on the scapular plane. The differences in the scapular kinematics of the dominant and the non-dominant side in both groups were analyzed with 2 by 8 Mixed Model ANOVA.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Absence of shoulder pain in the last 6 months,
• No discomfort in the shoulder joint during swimming,
• Use of symmetrical breathing patterns in training competitions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with a history of upper extremity injury (dislocation, fracture, muscle strain, etc.),
• Pain in clinical tests (Hawkins and Neer),
• Those who did not attend training regularly.