Abstract
Objectives
The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of abnormal anatomical change
present on MRI in elite swimmers' shoulders compared to age-matched controls.
Design
Descriptive epidemiological study.
Methods
Sixty (aged 16–36 years) elite Australian swimmers and 22 healthy active, age and
gender matched controls (aged 16–34 years). All participants completed a demographic,
and training load and shoulder pain questionnaire and underwent shoulder MRI. Tests
for differences in the population proportion was used for comparison between swimmers
dominant and non-dominant shoulders and those of the controls.
Results
Subscapularis and supraspinatus tendinopathy was the most common tendon abnormality
identified in swimming participants, being reported in at least one shoulder in 48/60
(73 %) and 46/60 (70 %) swimmers, respectively. There was no significant difference
between dominant and non-dominant shoulders for either tendinopathy, however, grade
3 tendinopathy was significantly more prevalent in subscapularis than in supraspinatus
(P < 0.01). Compared with controls, significantly more abnormalities were reported
in swimmers' shoulders in both subscapularis and supraspinatus tendons along with
the labrum and acromioclavicular joint. Pathology was not a predictor of current pain.
Conclusions
This data confirms that tendon abnormality is the most common finding in elite swimmers'
shoulders. Furthermore, that subscapularis tendinopathy is not only as common as supraspinatus
but has a greater prevalence of grade 3 tendinopathy. With significant varied abnormalities
including tendinopathy being so common in both symptomatic and asymptomatic shoulders
of swimming athletes', clinicians should consider imaging findings alongside patient
history, symptom presentation and clinical examination in determining their relevance
in the presenting condition.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 12, 2022
Accepted:
June 27,
2022
Received in revised form:
June 9,
2022
Received:
August 29,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
