The effect of swimming on spinal posture: A case study

The objective of this study was to apply adapted swimming techniques to assess their impact on the sagittal plane posture of the spine in juvenile participants. Clinical Summary: A 10-year-old boy has been diagnosed with a hyperkyphotic malalignment of 58° in the thoracic region and a hyperlordotic malalignment of 58° in the lumbar region of the sagittal plane of the spine. Diagnostic assessment utilized a non-invasive photometric method employing the Formetric 4D System by Diers, Germany. The individual's physical activity is limited, participating only in routine physical education classes at school. The diagnosis follows the Cobb method for measurement. Intervention and Outcomes: The participant engaged in a tailored program featuring modified swimming techniques conducted in water for a period of 16 weeks, with sessions held three a week lasting 45 minutes each. Throughout the treatment, the participant was assigned to perform six distinct exercises over a 100-meter distance. Following the completion of the intervention, the measurement indicated a reduction in the kyphotic curve angle to 48° as per the Cobb method. Similarly, in the lumbar region, the lordotic curve angle decreased to 41°. Conclusion: The conservative treatment, incorporating modified swimming techniques, contributed to a decrease in the angles associated with postural irregularities in the sagittal plane of the spine. These findings underscore the necessity for additional research involving a more extensive participant pool to validate further the favorable impact of the implemented program on postural deviations in both the thoracic and lumbar regions of the sagittal plane in juvenile individuals.