For decades, health care providers have been searching for the Holy Grail in terms of the single variable or single high risk factor as the cause for shoulder pain in the swimming athlete. Recent research by Hill et. al. revealed what we have been observing clinically for over 20 years. They conducted a systematic review to critically assess the published evidence for risk factors that may predispose a swimmer to shoulder pain and injury. Here's what they found: "No studies were determined to have a high level of certainty. Clinical joint laxity and instability, internal/external rotation, previous history of pain and injury and competitive level were determined to have a moderate level of certainty. All other risk factors were evaluated as having a low level of certainty. Although several risk factors were identified from the reviewed studies, prospective cohort studies, larger sample sizes, consistent and robust measures of risk should be employed in future research." Click on the citation below to read the full-text version of this article.
In addition, the United States Olympic Committee spent four years evaluating the elite swimming athlete and their conclusion as of 2017 was as follows: "there is no single variable or multivariate model that identifies a swimmer at risk for shoulder injury."
With the absence of a single variable or multivariate model our conclusion was to develop a Treatment Based Classification System for treating the painful shoulder in the swimming athlete. When treating these athletes, patterns will emerge during your first consultation and it will be clear your swimmer falls in to one of our sub-classifications. This will streamline the treatment plan and get your swimmer back in the pool, pain free.
George has developed a 3 hour lecture that will guide the student through an inclusive case study of a swimming athlete from evaluation to treatment using a treatment based classification system developed for the swimming athlete. Characteristics for each sub-classification will be defined and supported by research, pattern recognition and clinical expertise. We will cover the details of injury development, anthropometrics, stroke mechanics, latest research, dry land ideas, return to sport, training, and recovery. Please contact George at office@esopt.com if you would like him to present at your next conference.
Course Objectives:
Student will:
· understand the swimming athlete and the demands of the sport
· understand injury development in the swimming athlete
· learn how to manage shoulder injuries in the swimming athlete using the proposed treatment based classification system
· better understand swimming mechanics and the impact of injury related mechanics
· be exposed to the latest research and how to apply to the treatment plan and recommendations for home exercises and dry land routines
The Pathway to Injury Classification System can also be downloaded in PDF - Click Here