Dislocated Shoulder Affects Swimming Backstroke. Include Impact

Dislocated shoulder affects swimming backstroke. Include impact of condition occupational performance. Include medical occupational intervention affects patients life rehab.

Dislocated shoulder: How it affects a backstroke swimmer

The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body and makes flexible movements such as the backward pedaling or propulsion of the backstroke swimmer possible. However, this also makes the joint highly prone to injury. "Dislocations of the shoulder occur when the head of the [upper arm bone] humerus is forcibly removed from its socket in the glenoid fossa" (Wedro 2012:1). Dislocated shoulders are usually associated with traumatic contact sports such as rugby. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint, and when the shoulder joint's connective tissue is subjected to stress, it can tear and allow the humerus to pop out of its socket. The most common type of shoulder dislocation is an anterior dislocation, characterized by "forced extension, abduction, and external rotation" (Dlimi 2012).

Repetitive stress injuries such as doing the backstroke can also contribute to the conditions for a dislocated shoulder. However, the experience of the dislocation for the swimmer is usually sudden. When a backstroke swimmer dislocates his or her shoulder, the swimmer may describe it as follows: "He suddenly felt that his shoulders were going out of place and was unable to continue the race" (Dlimi 2012). 'Starting' the race for the backstroke may cause trauma to the shoulder. "For the takeoff, the swimmer pushed his hands away from the block, swung his arms around sideways to the front, and threw his head to the back" (Dlimi 2012). The backstroke "consists of two main parts: the power phase and the recovery. The dislocation usually occurs when the swimmer has the arm in the cocked position associated with hyperextension of the shoulders. The force can be strong enough to rupture the anterior capsule and glenohumeral ligament complex, resulting in anteroinferior dislocation" (Dlimi 2012).

Immediate treatment requires a correct diagnosis of the type of dislocation through the use of x-rays, and, preferably, a return of the humeral head to the glenoid fossa through non-surgical means (Wedro 2012:3). If this is not possible, surgery or an 'open reduction' may be warranted. This is more rare, and is usually only undertaken when a "ligament, or piece of broken bone gets caught in the joint" (Wedro 2012:3) Non-surgical manipulations include scapular manipulation, in which "the healthcare provider attempts to rotate the shoulder blade, dislodging the humeral head, and allowing spontaneous relocation" (Wedro 2012:3). With external rotation, the elbow is rotated to 90 degrees and the shoulder is externally rotated. "Muscle spasm may be able to be overcome after five to 10 minutes, allowing the shoulder to spontaneously relocate" (Wedro 2012:3). In both of these forms of manipulation, the patient can be sitting or prone. But with traction-counter traction, the patient must be prone. "A sheet is looped around the armpit. While the health-care provider pulls down on the arm, an assistant, located at the head of the bed, pulls on the sheet to apply counter traction. As the muscles relax, the humeral head is able to return to its normal position" (Wedro 2012:3). In all three forms of nonsurgical manipulation, the patient is usually treated with painkillers beforehand or may be mildly sedated locally or pharmaceutically.