Season changes in performance of upper limbs and trunk in para swimmers

Geronimo José Bouzas Sanchis; Renan Alves Resende; Paula de Farias Fernandes Martins; Samuel Silva; Marco Túlio de Mello; Yasser Alakhdar Mohmara; Andressa Silva

doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2024.11.007

Season changes in performance of upper limbs and trunk in para swimmers

Phys Ther Sport. 2024 Nov 24:71:31-35. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2024.11.007. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Geronimo José Bouzas Sanchis¹, Renan Alves Resende², Paula de Farias Fernandes Martins², Samuel Silva³, Marco Túlio de Mello⁴, Yasser Alakhdar Mohmara⁵, Andressa Silva⁶

Affiliations

¹ Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Universidad de Valencia, Spain.
² Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
³ Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
⁴ Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Providencia, Chile.
⁵ Universidad de Valencia, Spain.
⁶ Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: andressa@demello.net.br.

PMID: 39615444
DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2024.11.007

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate upper limb performance, trunk extensor endurance, and serratus anterior strength in para swimmers over a sports season.

Design: A cohort study conducted over eleven months.

Settings: Three assessments were performed at pre-season, mid-season, and post-season, evaluating the CKCUEST, Sorensen Test, and isometric strength of the serratus anterior.

Participants: Twelve para swimmers from a sports center.

Main outcome measures: Generalized Mixed Models were used to assess seasonal changes and the influence of sex, age, type of impairment, and season phase. Coefficients of variation for each variable were calculated along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with a 5% significance level.

Results: Sorensen Test values decreased during the season (C: 22.0; CI: 33.9 to -10.4; p < 0.01). A serratus anterior isometric strength difference was observed post-season between para athletes with motor impairments and those with visual/intellectual impairments on the dominant side (C: 3.3; CI: 6.2 to -0.5; p = 0.02).

Conclusion: Sorensen Test values declined in mid-season, and para athletes with motor impairments showed lower serratus anterior strength in post-season. CKCUEST values remained stable throughout the season.

Keywords: Impairments; Paralympic sports; Shoulder; Swimmers.