The prevention of the most common shoulder injuries in competitive swimming : A narrative literature review

Abstract

The purposes of this thesis was to explore the prevalence and types of shoulder injuries common in competitive swimming and to identify effective preventive exercises for minimizing injury risk. A narrative literature review was conducted, analyzing 10 studies focused on competitive swimmer’s shoulder health. The findings revealed that shoulder pain and dysfunction, often referred to as swimmer’s shoulder, are prevalent due to the repetitive overhead movements and the imbalances between shoulder internal and external rotators. Additionally, key risk factors include limited shoulder mobility, muscle strength imbalances, and high training workloads.

Preventive exercises programs emerged as crucial for enhancing shoulder stability, strength, and range of motion, therefore reducing injury occurrence. Based on the review, the guidebook was created. The guidebook is targeting exercises for the swimmers, that focus on shoulder strength and stability. Evidence suggest that incorporating targeted dry-land training and pre-swim warm-ups can reduce shoulder strain and enhance muscular en-durance, particularly through exercises like resistance band rotations, TRX-based shoulder stabilization, and core-balancing routines.

The findings inform an exercise guide developed for the swimmers and coached on Porin Uimaseura, with recommendations to balance muscle conditioning and minimize injury risk. This guidebook offers a structured, evidence-based approach to strengthening exercises, aiming to promote injury prevention and sustainable performance improvement for competitive swimmers.