Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the upper extremity elevation angle and spinal alignment in competitive swimmers in the change from the standing position to the streamlined position (SL). [Subjects] The subjects were 26 competitive swimmers from a university swimming club, and 20 healthy young adults with no swimming experience. [Methods] The changes in spinal alignment from the standing position to SL were measured using a Spinal Mouse® (Index, Ltd., Japan), and the upper extremity elevation angle in SL was measured using a goniometer (Muranakairyoki Co., Ltd., Japan). [Results] For the competitive swimmers, there were significant correlations between the upper extremity elevation angle and the amount of change in thoracic kyphosis (r=−0.48), lumbar lordosis (r=0.65), and anterior pelvic tilt angles (r=−0.43). These correlations were not found in the healthy young adults. [Conclusion] This study found that competitive swimmers have a large upper extremity elevation angle, small lumbar lordosis, and small anterior pelvic tilt angle during large changes in thoracic kyphosis.
