Intrinsic Risk Factors for Noncontact Musculoskeletal Injury in Collegiate Swimmers: A Prospective Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Shoulder pain is a common issue among swimmers across all age groups.
• Prospective studies on injury risk factors in swimmers are limited, leading to uncertainty.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors associated with noncontact musculoskeletal injuries in collegiate swimmers.
• Investigated the role of previous injury, movement competency, swimming technique, and perceived injury susceptibility.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study was conducted in a college natatorium.
• Thirty-seven collegiate swimmers (21 female, 16 male) participated.
• Data collected included preseason questionnaires, movement screening, and freestyle technique assessment, analyzed using logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Nearly 30% of swimmers sustained an injury during the study period.
• Previous injury history (OR=8.89) and crossover hand entry during freestyle (OR=8.50) were significant risk factors.
• Higher perceived injury risk was associated with decreased injury odds (adjusted OR=0.11), while movement competency was not significant.

Conclusions:

• Previous injuries, crossover hand entry in freestyle, and low perceived injury risk are linked to higher odds of injury in swimmers.
• Assessing injury history and hand-entry technique can help identify at-risk swimmers.
• These findings can inform targeted injury-prevention programs for swimmers.