Characteristics of shoulder range of motion, muscle tightness, and streamlined body position in Japanese female para swimmers with unilateral forearm deficiency and in swimmers with vision impairment: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Keita Shimura, Tsuyoshi Yoshizawa, Keisuke Koizumi and 3 others
PMID 40757020WHAT IT FOUND
Female para swimmers with one forearm missing showed restricted shoulder movement on both arms, tighter quadriceps, and a streamlined position with excessive lower back arching compared to swimmers with vision impairment.
Key findings
01Shoulder range of motion was significantly reduced in swimmers with unilateral forearm deficiency compared to those with vision impairment, particularly for flexion, extension, and external rotation on both the dominant and deficient sides.
02Qualitative assessment showed inadequate shoulder flexion on both sides in most swimmers with unilateral forearm deficiency, accompanied by excessive lumbar lordosis in the streamlined body position.
03Swimmers with unilateral forearm deficiency had significantly greater heel-buttock distance on the non-dominant side, indicating tighter quadriceps muscles compared to the vision impairment group.
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How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was very small (7 UFD, 5 VI), limiting statistical power and generalizability. The groups differed significantly in age (UFD mean 17.7 years vs VI mean 23.0 years), which may influence range of motion and strength. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot establish whether the observed physical characteristics cause performance issues or result from training adaptations. Streamlined body position was assessed on land, not in water, so it may not accurately reflect underwater hydrodynamic posture. The comparison group consisted of swimmers with vision impairment, not able-bodied swimmers, because elite able-bodied controls were unavailable. Training load and volume were not assessed, so differences in physical characteristics cannot be directly attributed to specific training stressors.
Declared interests
None declared. Supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP22K17715.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these findings apply to male swimmers or those with bilateral deficiencies, as the study included only female athletes with unilateral forearm deficiency. The small sample size and age difference between groups mean these characteristics should be viewed as descriptive trends rather than definitive clinical norms.