Scapular Kinematics of 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.