Shoulder health profile in professional adolescent swimmers and effects of swimming strokes

Swimming is a sport that consists of 4 different strokes, especially with repeated shoulder elevation and rotational movements in shoulder joint. The literature review includes that studies based on shoulder injury rates and shoulder muscle strength, glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) and scapulothoracic rhythm. It is investigated that the number of the researches about comparing competitive adolescent swimmers and non competitive adolescents and investigating effects of swimming strokes on shoulder health profile seems to be low in number in literature. Therefore, the aim of this study is (1) to compare the shoulder health profile of competitive adolescent swimmers and non competitive adolescents, in addition (2) to investigate the effects of swimming strokes on shoulder health profile. Participants will be included in this case - control study, if they are 13-18 years old, interested in swimming as professonal at least 5 years, age and sex matched physically active non competitive adolescents (control group). Glenohumeral joint rotational range of motion, 2- dimensional scapular kinematics (scapular upward rotation range of motion), presence or absence of observational scapular dyskinesia, glenohumeral joint muscle strength (IR/ER ratio), scapular muscle strength, posterior shoulder complex flexibility, pectoralis minor length and the Kerlan - Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic Shoulder and Elbow Outcome Score (Turkish Version - KJOC Tr) will be used for swimmers and control group. The data obtained will be compared firstly between competitive adolescent swimmers and control group and secondly by swimming strokes in competitive swimmers. As a result of this study, the shoulder health profile will be investigated in detail, possible adaptations and problems related with shoulder will be reported. Thus, this informations will be obtained to guide sports rehabilitation of athletes and future research.