Leanda J McKenna1, Mandy de Ronde2, Minyang Le2, William Burke2, Anna Graves3, Sian A Williams2. 1. School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Australia. Electronic address: l.mckenna@curtin.edu.au. 2. School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Australia. 3. Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare serratus anterior and lower trapezius muscle thickness between swimmers with and without current shoulder pain, and between sides when measured by real-time ultrasound imaging. DESIGN: A single blinded age and gender-matched case-control study with 26 symptomatic and 26 asymptomatic recreational swimmers. METHODS: Muscle thickness of serratus anterior and lower trapezius were measured using previously validated real-time ultrasound imaging protocols. Serratus anterior thickness was measured in side lying with 90° of glenohumeral flexion at rest and during a scapular protraction contraction. Lower trapezius thickness was measured in prone with 145° of glenohumeral abduction whilst at rest and when holding the weight of the arm. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the muscle thickness of serratus anterior and lower trapezius between the symptomatic shoulder and the dominance-matched shoulder in the asymptomatic group of swimmers. There was also no significant difference in muscle thickness between the symptomatic side and asymptomatic side within the symptomatic group. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be no difference in serratus anterior and lower trapezius thickness between swimmers who have mild to moderate shoulder pain, who continue to swim and those who do not have shoulder pain. When imaging the serratus anterior and lower trapezius in swimmers with mild shoulder pain, clinicians should expect no differences between sides. If muscle thickness differences between sides are detected in recreational swimmers, this may indicate that the swimmer is participating in other asymmetrical activities or has a higher level of shoulder pain.
OBJECTIVES: To compare serratus anterior and lower trapezius muscle thickness between swimmers with and without current shoulder pain, and between sides when measured by real-time ultrasound imaging. DESIGN: A single blinded age and gender-matched case-control study with 26 symptomatic and 26 asymptomatic recreational swimmers. METHODS: Muscle thickness of serratus anterior and lower trapezius were measured using previously validated real-time ultrasound imaging protocols. Serratus anterior thickness was measured in side lying with 90° of glenohumeral flexion at rest and during a scapular protraction contraction. Lower trapezius thickness was measured in prone with 145° of glenohumeral abduction whilst at rest and when holding the weight of the arm. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the muscle thickness of serratus anterior and lower trapezius between the symptomatic shoulder and the dominance-matched shoulder in the asymptomatic group of swimmers. There was also no significant difference in muscle thickness between the symptomatic side and asymptomatic side within the symptomatic group. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be no difference in serratus anterior and lower trapezius thickness between swimmers who have mild to moderate shoulder pain, who continue to swim and those who do not have shoulder pain. When imaging the serratus anterior and lower trapezius in swimmers with mild shoulder pain, clinicians should expect no differences between sides. If muscle thickness differences between sides are detected in recreational swimmers, this may indicate that the swimmer is participating in other asymmetrical activities or has a higher level of shoulder pain.
Authors: Stany Perkisas; Sophie Bastijns; Stéphane Baudry; Jürgen Bauer; Charlotte Beaudart; David Beckwée; Alfonso Cruz-Jentoft; Jerzy Gasowski; Hans Hobbelen; Harriët Jager-Wittenaar; Agnieszka Kasiukiewicz; Francesco Landi; Magdalena Małek; Ester Marco; Anna Maria Martone; Ana Merello de Miguel; Karolina Piotrowicz; Elisabet Sanchez; Dolores Sanchez-Rodriguez; Aldo Scafoglieri; Maurits Vandewoude; Veronique Verhoeven; Zyta Beata Wojszel; Anne-Marie De Cock Journal: Eur Geriatr Med Date: 2021-01-02 Impact factor: 1.710