Jornal de novas fisioterapias

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A Study of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Greek Male and Female Swimmers

Michalis Sambanis, Ioannis Athanailidis, Athanasios Sambanis, Olga Kiritsi, Konstantinos Tsitas and Iconomou Charalambos

An epidemiological survey was conducted to collect data relating to the prevalence and frequency of musculoskeletal injuries in male and female Greek swimmers. A questionnaire was administered on site thus ensuring that the response rate was 100 percent. Analysis of results revealed that of the 149 respondents there were 76 male (51%) and 73 female subjects (49%). A total of 48 athletes (32.21%) indicated that they had musculoskeletal injuries, and mainly shoulderproblems (62.41%; N=50 males and N=43 females), followed in descending order by knee injuries and low back pain problems. The prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries ranked highest among freestyle swimmers (N=26) followed by breaststroke (N=11), butterfly (N=7) and finally backstroke (N=4) swimmers. Musculoskeletal injuries are common in Greek under aged elite swimmers and thus care must be taken for their prevention and early safe return to play.