title: Epidemiology of injuries and prevention strategies in competitive swimmers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Competitive swimmers are predisposed to musculoskeletal injuries of the upper limb, knee, and spine. This review discusses the epidemiology of these injuries, in addition to prevention strategies that may assist the physician in formulating rehabilitation programs for the swimmer following an injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed by a review of Google Scholar, OVID, and PubMed articles published from 1972 to 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study highlights the epidemiology of injuries common to competitive swimmers and provides prevention strategies for the sports health professional.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An understanding of swimming biomechanics and typical injuries in swimming aids in early recognition of injury, initiation of treatment, and design of optimal prevention and rehabilitation strategies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Soft Tissue Research, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wanivenhaus
authors.forename: Alice J S
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaudhury
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rodeo