Ferit Tufan ÖZGEZMEZ, Vahit YILDIZ
Meandros Medical and Dental Journal - 2026;27(2):297-302
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of weekly training frequency on arthroscopically confirmed shoulder pathologies in self-learned recreational swimmers. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 112 amateur swimmers (median age = 31.5 years; IQR: 24-37) with chronic shoulder pain who underwent arthroscopy. Patients were divided into three groups based on weekly swimming duration: Low (1-2 h/week), Moderate (>2-5 h/week), and High (>5 h/week). Arthroscopic findings for subacromial impingement, Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior (SLAP) lesions, supraspinatus tears, and Bankart lesions were recorded. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs), adjusting for age and sex. Results: Subacromial impingement prevalence increased significantly with swimming frequency, reaching 91.2% in the high-frequency group; however, regression analysis identified age as a significant confounder. In contrast, SLAP lesions were most prevalent in low-frequency swimmers (62.5%), who exhibited substantially higher adjusted odds compared with high-frequency swimmers (aOR = 21.486, p < 0.001). High-frequency swimming was independently associated with higher odds of supraspinatus tears (aOR = 3.824, p = 0.046). Bankart lesions were rare and observed only in the low-frequency group. Conclusion: Swimming frequency is associated with distinct patterns of shoulder pathology in self-learned swimmers. While higher volumes are linked to impingement, low-frequency swimming is associated with SLAP lesions, potentially related to poorer neuromuscular control and stroke mechanics. The high prevalence of SLAP lesions in this cohort highlights the value of arthroscopic evaluation compared with conventional imaging.
