Investigating Association Between Spine, Scapular, Shoulder and Core in Swimmers

Summary

The aim of this observational study is to investigate relationship between cervical, thoracic, lumbar and thoracolumbar spine posture, spine movement, isometric and eccentric shoulder strength, scapular dyskinesis and core muscle endurance in healthy competitive young swimmers in comparison with healthy recreational swimmers. The main question is whether spine posture affects spine movement, shoulder strength, scapular dyskinesia and core endurance. Participants will asked to complete a warm up period, after that spine posture, spine movement, scapular dyskinesia, shoulder strength and core endurance will be assessed by examiner. Researchers will compare competitive swimmer group and recreational swimmer group. Additionally correlation between spine posture, spine movement, scapular dyskinesia, shoulder strength and core muscle endurance will be investigated in competitive swimmer group. Aim of the study is to determine whether posture have any effect upon these parameters.

Conditions

• Postural Kyphosis
• Postural Lordosis
• Movement, Abnormal
• Spine Injury
• Cervical Lordosis

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Spine Posture Assessment

Spine posture will be assessed with double inclinometer method. After determining landmarks for each assessment, inclinometers will be placed and degree will be noted. Both degree which are obtained with different inclinometers will be used to summed up for determining postural alteration degree. Cervical, thoracal, thoracolumbar and lumbar spinal postures will be used. Spine postures are going to be expressed as, cervical lordosis degree, thoracal kyphosis degree, thoracolumbar posture degree and lumbar lordosis degree. Landmarks for cervical lordosis are C2 and C7, for thoracal kyphosis are T1 and T12, for lumbar lordosis are T12 and S1, for thoracolumbar posture C7 and S1.

PROCEDURE

Spine Movement Assessment

Spine movement will be assessed via using bubble inclinometer in terms of degree. Bony landmarks will be spotted like done in spine posture assessment after that full spinal flexion and extension wanted in order to record degrees in inclinometers at the end range. As a result the difference between two inclinometer will give the motion of that segment. Lumbar and thoracolumbar spinal movement will be assessed with this method. For thoracal and cervical range of motion values will be recorded separately without substruction from both inclinometer. Thoracal rotation range of motion will be assessed with two landmarks and will be recorded separately according to landmark. Thoracolumbar range of motion will be assessed with two substruction of degrees. Landmarks for cervical range of motion are vertex and C7, for thoracal range of motion are T1 and T12, for lumbar range of motion are T12 and S1, for thoracolumbar range of motion C7 and S1.

PROCEDURE

Core Muscle Endurance Assessment

Core muscle endurance is divided into three components. Trunk anterior flexion test will be used to assess anterior core region endurance. Lateral plank test will be used to determine lateral core muscle endurance. Trunk posterior extensor test will be used to determine endurance of the posterior core musculature. All of these test are calculated in predetermined positions according to literature with static contractions. Maximum duration of maintaining that position is needed. In trunk anterior flexion test participant will sit with 60 degree inclination from the ground while making contact with their feet when hips and knees are flexed. In lateral plank test participants should place their elbow to ground and lift their hip while feet are in contact with ground in side lying position. In trunk extensor endurance test participants will lie prone to the bed while maintaining contact with their ASIS and lower extremity. The upper body should stay outside of the bed.

PROCEDURE

Scapular Dyskinesia

Scapular dyskinesia will be assessed with scapular dyskinesia test. Dumbbells which are 1,5kg will be used in the testing setting. Participant will perform full shoulder abduction for 5 times while examiner assesses the movement quality by ranking it as subtle dyskinesis, obvious dyskinesis and no dyskinesis according to the movement of the scapula. After that participant will perform 5 repetitions of shoulder flexion.

PROCEDURE

Shoulder Strength

Shoulder strength will be assessed via usage of microfet hand held dynamometer. Isometric shoulder strength will be calculated in supine lying position while participant holding their arm at side with 90 degree elbow flexion. After that participant will apply maximal contraction towards external rotation while examiner resists that motion in order to prevent any motion with dynamometer. Eccentric shoulder strength will be assessed in sitting position. Participant will hold their shoulder at 90 degrees of abduction with 90 degree external rotation. Also elbow should be in 90 degree flexed position. After that examiner will give force towards neutral rotation while holding the arm. Participant will resist this motion eccentrically until neutral rotation is reached. Velocity of the shoulder should be same throughout all motion due to creation of isokinetic environment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Yeditepe University

  lead OTHER

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

24 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-08-10

Primary Completion

2024-10-01

Completion

2024-12-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations