Shoulder impingement in swimmers is rarely a rotator cuff issue alone. The thoracic spine and scapular control matter more.
The catch is a whole-body movement.
Swimmer's shoulder gets blamed on the rotator cuff, but the cuff is usually the victim, not the culprit. A high-elbow catch requires thoracic rotation, scapular upward rotation, and serratus anterior control.
What we screen.
Thoracic rotation, scapular dyskinesis, and posterior shoulder mobility. We also look at stroke volume.
Shoulder impingement is rarely a rotator cuff issue alone.
Getting back in the water.
Treatment is rarely about the shoulder alone. We restore the mobility upstream, build the scapular control, and rebuild stroke volume on a timeline tissue can actually handle.
