Posterior deltoid shoulder tightness and greater contralateral lower limb muscle strength are associated with swimmers' shoulder pain.

OBJECTIVES

To identify factors associated with shoulder pain in swimmers based on elastic muscle modulus, joint range of motion, and isometric muscle strength.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

METHODS

Forty-eight competitive swimmers without shoulder pain (age: 18-28 years; men: 29) were followed-up for 6 months. Baseline measurements of the elastic modulus of the pectoralis minor, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, posterior deltoid, and pectoralis minor muscles were obtained using shear wave elastography. Range of motion and isometric strength were measured using a goniometer and a hand-held dynamometer, respectively. A questionnaire was administered weekly for 6 months to determine shoulder pain occurrence. Each item was compared between shoulders with and without pain at baseline. For participants with shoulder pain exceeding 2 weeks, shear wave elastography and range of motion at baseline (pre pain) and during follow-up (post pain) were compared.

RESULTS

Of 46 swimmers followed-up for 6 months, 20 reported shoulder pain. 14 swimmers with pain were evaluated twice. Participants with shoulder pain during follow-up had significantly higher posterior deltoid and pectoralis minor stiffness at baseline and high lower extremity isometric muscle strength contralateral to the shoulder with pain compared to those without pain (p < 0.05). Swimmers with pain exceeding 2 weeks exhibited no differences in ultrasound shear wave elastography and range of motion at baseline and after pain onset.

CONCLUSIONS

Posterior deltoid and pectoralis minor muscle stiffness, and high isometric lower extremity strength contralateral to the shoulder with pain may be associated with shoulder pain development, thereby indicating the importance of maintaining posterior deltoid and pectoralis minor muscle flexibility during conditioning.