Swimming-related shoulder injuries: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends

Competitive swimming has grown substantially worldwide, bringing increased attention to the prevalence of overuse injuries among athletes. One of the most common conditions, swimmer's shoulder, is closely associated with orthopedic pathologies including rotator cuff tendinopathy, labral injury, and scapular dyskinesis, resulting from the repetitive overhead motion required in swimming. Despite growing clinical and research interest in these injuries, the global landscape and evolution of scientific research on swimming-related shoulder injuries have not yet been investigated.

Using Web of Science, a total of 542 publications concerning shoulder disorders in swimmers between 1965 and 2026 were analyzed to investigate key factors, contributors, and overall research trends. VOSviewer was also used during this process to assess co-authorship networks, journal distribution, and collaboration patterns. Lastly, Microsoft Excel was used to evaluate publication trends over time, citation patterns, language distribution, and geographic contributions.

Publication and citation output increased substantially over time, with particularly rapid growth starting from the 2010s. A geographical examination found that the United States accounted for the highest proportion of publications, followed by England, Australia, Canada, and Brazil. The most prolific publication sources included Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, Journal of Athletic Training, American Journal of Sports Medicine, British Journal of Sports Medicine, and International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. Lastly, author and affiliation patterns suggested that research output is concentrated among a limited number of institutions and collaborative networks.

The steady increase of research on swimmer's shoulder reflects a growing awareness of shoulder overuse injuries as a significant issue in sports medicine. Much of this work comes from English publications, high-income countries, and various author and institution networks. This shows improvements in understanding injury mechanisms and management. Additionally, the high number of studies in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and orthopedic journals emphasizes the clinical focus of this field and provides a future avenue for research. However, gaps still exist in global representation, language diversity, and the application of findings into prevention and rehabilitation strategies. Further efforts should emphasize international collaboration and clinically applicable research to enhance long-term swimmer health.