A CORRELATION BETWEEN SHOULDER LAXITY AND INTERFERING PAIN IN COMPETITIVE SWIMMERS

Shoulder pain in the swimming athlete that interferes with effective t raining is serious and may result in decreased performance, Based on t he hypothesis that shoulder laxity is an important factor in shoulder pain, this study of 40 senior national and elite swimmers was undertak en. A questionnaire identified those athletes currently suffering from such pain. Shoulder laxity was assessed using standard clinical tests , from which a laxity score was derived, A statistically significant c orrelation was identified between the shoulder laxity score and the pr esence of interfering shoulder pain, confirming the hypothesis of the study, These results have direct implications for training the symptom atic athlete.