Alec McKenzie, a PhD scholar at Griffith University, specializes in shoulder injury prevention for swimmers. He reveals three key factors contributing to swimmer's shoulder pain, emphasizing the importance of injury prevention strategies and tailored training loads. Alec discusses advancements in imaging techniques for monitoring tendon health and highlights the risks linked to pushing through pain. He also shares insights from his research, advocating for a balanced approach to training that includes varying shoulder activities and understanding the role of technology in recovery.
Understanding shoulder injury prevention in swimmers necessitates careful monitoring of training loads, injury history, and stroke technique to mitigate risks.
Innovative imaging techniques, like ultrasound, are crucial for assessing tendon health and guiding tailored recovery strategies among competitive swimmers.
Deep dives
The Importance of Injury Prevention in Swimmers
The discussion highlights the critical role of injury prevention, particularly shoulder injuries in swimmers, as a focus for current research. Alec McKenzie underscores that understanding the risk factors for shoulder pain involves examining training load, injury history, and stroke technique. Notably, a significant finding suggests that inconsistent training loads, such as alternating between intense and light training, can increase the risk of injury. The emphasis on monitoring and adjusting training regimens is essential for mitigating these risks, especially among younger athletes.
Innovative Approaches to Monitoring Tendon Health
A major focus of the conversation revolves around innovative imaging techniques to monitor swimmer’s shoulder health. Alec discusses the use of ultrasound and shear wave elastography to measure tendon thickness and stiffness, which can provide valuable insights into injury risk. He notes that swimmers often experience increases in tendon thickness after training sessions, suggesting the need for effective recovery strategies. Recognizing these changes allows for timely interventions to prevent injuries, highlighting that recovery protocols must be tailored to the unique demands of swimming.
The Dual Impact of Training Load and Recovery
The podcast delves into the relationship between training load, recovery, and the incidence of shoulder injuries in swimmers. A key insight is that while training is essential for performance, inadequate recovery can lead to cumulative damage within the tendons. Alec shares that even slight increases in tendon swelling during training can impact recovery and potentially lead to injury if not managed properly. This reinforces the need for a balanced approach to training that considers both the intensity of workouts and the vital importance of recovery periods.
Strength and Technique: A Holistic Approach
The conversation acknowledges the multifaceted nature of swimmer injuries, emphasizing the interplay between strength training and proper stroke technique. Alec identifies posterior shoulder strength endurance as a particularly important factor in injury prevention, indicating that sufficient strength can help stabilize shoulder movements during swimming. However, the complexities of stroke technique and its potential contribution to injuries remain under-explored, suggesting a need for further research and understanding. This holistic approach illustrates that improving swimmer performance and health involves not only enhancing physical strength but also refining technique.
Alec Mackenzie is a PhD scholar with Griffith University, the Queensland Academy of Sport, and Swimming Australia. Alec dives into the prevention of shoulder injuries in swimmers, sharing insights from his ground-breaking research. His recent systematic review, "Identifying Evidence-Practice Gaps for Shoulder Injury Risk Factors in Competitive Swimmers," has made waves in the sports medicine world by bridging literature and expert opinion to better manage swimmer’s shoulder.
In this episode Alec unpacks the top three statistically significant factors contributing to shoulder pain in swimmers, offering invaluable advice for athletes, coaches, and triathletes.
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