The Effect of Rehabilitation Exercises Accompanied by Ultrasound Waves on Improving the Range of Motion in Swimmers Suffering from Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Abstract

The research aims to develop rehabilitative exercises using ultrasound for swimmers suffering from shoulder impingement syndrome, and to explore the effects of these rehabilitative exercises on improving the range of motion in swimmers afflicted with this syndrome. The researchers hypothesize that there are statistically significant differences between the pre-test and post-test results of the rehabilitation of swimmers with shoulder impingement syndrome in favor of the post-test results for the experimental group. The experimental method relied on a sample of swimmers suffering from shoulder impingement syndrome, totaling seven individuals, representing 77.78% of their population, which consisted of male swimmers with Type I shoulder impingement syndrome from various local clubs in Basra, Iraq, for the sports season of 2022/2023. These individuals frequented the physical therapy department at Basra General Teaching Hospital. After diagnosis and the determination of tests, exercises were prepared incorporating the technology under study in each of the rehabilitative therapy sessions. There was a total of 18 sessions, with three sessions per week, each session including four rehabilitative exercises. This experimental regimen lasted for six consecutive weeks. After the completion of the rehabilitation program, the results were processed using SPSS software, version 28. The key conclusions and recommendations indicated that integrating rehabilitative exercises with the use of ultrasound is appropriate for therapeutic sessions for swimmers with shoulder impingement syndrome. The application of such exercises has a positive effect on restoring the range of motion in various directions of the shoulder joint for swimmers suffering from shoulder impingement syndrome. It is essential for hospitals to focus on developing the expertise of their therapists on how to implement rehabilitative exercises using ultrasound, based on the findings of this research, to effectively rehabilitate swimmers with shoulder impingement syndrome. The rehabilitation tools and methods should be tailored to the specific needs of swimmers with shoulder impingement syndrome and should be readily available in hospitals. Their use is essential when rehabilitating affected individuals. It is also crucial to leverage the expertise of academics specialized in sports rehabilitation when training hospital therapists, especially in light of the recent use of ultrasound technology. This requires ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Environment and colleges of physical education and sports sciences.