ABSTRACT
The purpose of this prospective study was to determine if clinical changes [1,2,3,4,5] and shifts of muscle torque ratios typically found in adult athletes [6] can also be seen in elite age group swimmers and whether a functional dryland strength training effects subclinical changes which are associated with the sport specific stroke mechanism and the development of overuse-syndromes and sport injuries of the shoulder in the competitive swimmer.
After undergoing a initial specific orthopaedic test programme and an isokinetic muscular strength test 31 elite age group swimmers trained with a functional muscular strength-training and flexibility programme over the timeperiod of 18 month. The results were compared to controls (n=20).
The shoulder-strength testing was performed on the Cybex II dynamometer for external and internal rotation in two test positions and two different testing modes.
The initial results demonstrated a significant muscular dysbalance of the internal rotation muscles (IR) to the external rotation muscles (ER) in male and female age group swimmers. A ratio of 1:2,22–1:1,78 (45–56 %) ER/IR was found in swimmers. In the controls a ratio of 1:1,47 – 1:1,41 (68–71 %) was measured.
Initially 16 swimmers mentioned shoulder problems within the last two years of training. A clinical manifest shoulder joint instability could be proved in 22 swimmers.
At the end of the study the results showed a significant increase of the external rotation muscles (ER). The ratios of 1:1,47–1:1,35 (68–74 %) ER/IR were determined in the swimmers.
In the final clinical testing instability was still seen in eigth shoulders. A single athlete had suffered from shoulder problems.
