• Trevor Gaunt and Nicola Maffulli.
• Centre for Sports and Exercise, Mile End Hospital, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
• Br. Med. Bull. 2012 Sep 1; 103 (1): 45-88.

BackgroundThis review details the examination, diagnosis, treatment and management of injuries encountered by competitive swimmers. Primarily, these involve the shoulder, however, the spine, knee and hip can be involved. Using the Coleman methodology score, we show that the methods used in obtaining and reporting clinical findings and intervention results could be improved. Where possible, we suggest improvements.Sources Of DataA literature review was conducted in English, Italian, French and German using PubMed, Google Scholar and Ovid search engines with strict inclusion/exclusion criteria.Areas Of AgreementPoor technique, and high training intensity and distance are the most common cause of missed swim practice and competition through injury.Areas Of ControversyFew articles agree on a single method of each of clinical examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.Growing PointsArticles are consistently retrospective with few investigating spine, hip and knee injuries.Areas Timely For Developing ResearchClinical findings and rehabilitation methods should be reported using a more structured method possibly based on the Coleman methodological scoring system.

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