Isometric Strength and Joint Mobility Profile in Elite Artistic Swimmers Across Competitive Categories

General Assessment of Strength and Mobility in Artistic Swimmers of the Spanish Swimming Federation

This cross-sectional observational study aims to establish reference values for joint mobility and isometric muscle strength in elite artistic swimmers across different competitive categories. The study will analyze inter-limb asymmetries and agonist-antagonist strength ratios in upper and lower limbs. Additionally, relationships between isometric strength, countermovement jump performance, and handgrip strength will be explored to assess their utility as functional performance indicators. Participants will be assessed during national team training camps using standardized, validated measurement protocols. The findings are expected to contribute to the identification of sport-specific functional profiles and potential injury risk factors in artistic swimming.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Swimming; Stretch; Assessment, Self
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Standardized Functional Performance Assessment

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 45

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Pablo H Hernández, Phd; Phone Number: 034 986 80 17 50; Email: sdfisioterapia@uvigo.es

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Pontevedra, Spain, 36004
    • Recruiting
    • University of Vigo
    • Contact: Pablo Hernández Lucas, phd; Email: phernandez@uvigo.es

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of elite artistic swimmers selected to the Spanish National Artistic Swimming Team across Infant, Junior, and Senior competitive categories. Participants are high-performance athletes with national and international competitive experience who attend official national team training camps organized by the Spanish Swimming Federation. This population represents the highest competitive level in artistic swimming within the country and provides a unique reference group for functional performance characterization.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Elite artistic swimmers selected for the Spanish National Artistic Swimming Team (Infant, Junior, or Senior categories).
• Age consistent with the competitive category: Infant 14-16 years, Junior 16-18 years, Senior ≥18 years.
• Attendance at the national team training camp where the assessments are performed.
• Voluntary participation with written informed consent (and assent/parental or legal guardian consent for minors).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute musculoskeletal or joint injury affecting the tested regions (shoulder, hip, elbow, knee) at the time of assessment.
• Chronic, previous, or any other condition that may limit participation or bias the measurements.
• Inability to attend the assessment session(s) during the training camp.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Infant Artistic Swimmers; Elite artistic swimmers aged 14-16 years selected to the Spanish National Artistic Swimming Team. Participants undergo a single-session standardized assessment including anthropometric measurements, joint mobility (shoulder and hip goniometry), isometric muscle strength testing (upper and lower limbs), countermovement jump performance, and handgrip strength during national team training camps.	Other: Standardized Functional Performance Assessment; Participants undergo a standardized, non-invasive functional assessment protocol conducted during national team training camps. The evaluation includes anthropometric measurements, photographic goniometry of shoulder and hip joint mobility, isometric muscle strength testing of upper and lower limbs using a validated force sensor, countermovement jump performance assessed on a contact platform, and handgrip strength measured with a digital dynamometer. All procedures are performed in a single assessment session following standardized positioning, timing, and rest intervals.
Junior Artistic Swimmers; Elite artistic swimmers aged 16-18 years selected to the Spanish National Artistic Swimming Team. Participants complete the same standardized evaluation protocol assessing anthropometrics, joint mobility, isometric muscle strength, countermovement jump performance, and handgrip strength in a single assessment session.	Other: Standardized Functional Performance Assessment; Participants undergo a standardized, non-invasive functional assessment protocol conducted during national team training camps. The evaluation includes anthropometric measurements, photographic goniometry of shoulder and hip joint mobility, isometric muscle strength testing of upper and lower limbs using a validated force sensor, countermovement jump performance assessed on a contact platform, and handgrip strength measured with a digital dynamometer. All procedures are performed in a single assessment session following standardized positioning, timing, and rest intervals.
Senior Artistic Swimmers; Elite artistic swimmers aged 18 years and older selected to the Spanish National Artistic Swimming Team. Participants undergo a standardized cross-sectional functional assessment including anthropometric data, joint mobility, isometric muscle strength, countermovement jump performance, and handgrip strength.	Other: Standardized Functional Performance Assessment; Participants undergo a standardized, non-invasive functional assessment protocol conducted during national team training camps. The evaluation includes anthropometric measurements, photographic goniometry of shoulder and hip joint mobility, isometric muscle strength testing of upper and lower limbs using a validated force sensor, countermovement jump performance assessed on a contact platform, and handgrip strength measured with a digital dynamometer. All procedures are performed in a single assessment session following standardized positioning, timing, and rest intervals.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Isometric Muscle Strength (Peak Force) of Upper and Lower Limbs	Peak isometric force obtained during maximal voluntary isometric contractions (3-second efforts, best of three trials) for key muscle groups involved in artistic swimming, assessed bilaterally (dominant and non-dominant limbs). Upper-limb tests include shoulder internal/external rotation, ASH and iASH positions, and elbow flexion/extension. Lower-limb tests include hip flexion/extension/abduction/adduction and knee extension/flexion. Values will be recorded as absolute force and normalized to body mass when applicable.	Day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Shoulder Joint Mobility	Shoulder range of motion (degrees) assessed using standardized photographic goniometry, including internal and external rotation at 90° abduction and horizontal abduction. Measurements are performed bilaterally using anatomical landmarks and digital angle analysis software.	Day 1
Hip Joint Mobility	Hip range of motion (degrees) measured bilaterally using photographic goniometry, including hip flexion (straight leg raise), hip extension (Thomas test), hip abduction, and internal and external rotation with hip and knee at 90°.	Day 1
Inter-limb Strength Asymmetries	Between-limb asymmetries calculated from bilateral isometric strength values for upper and lower limbs, comparing dominant vs non-dominant and right vs left sides to describe asymmetry profiles across competitive categories.	Day 1
Agonist-Antagonist Strength Ratios	Strength ratios derived from isometric peak force of opposing muscle groups, including shoulder internal/external rotators and other relevant muscle actions, to characterize muscle balance profiles in artistic swimmers.	Day 1
Lower-Limb Explosive Power (Countermovement Jump)	Jump height measured during countermovement jump testing on a validated contact platform, including bilateral and unilateral jumps. Best performance from three trials per condition is recorded.	Day 1
Handgrip Strength	Maximal voluntary handgrip strength measured bilaterally using a digital dynamometer. Three maximal 3-second contractions are performed per hand, and mean values are recorded.	Day 1
Associations Between Isometric Strength and Functional Performance Measures	Correlations between isometric strength values and functional performance indicators (countermovement jump and handgrip strength) to explore their utility as surrogate functional assessment tools.	Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Vigo
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Pablo Hernández Lucas, phd, Pablo Hernández

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 27, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 11, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 19, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 23, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 19, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: Nadadoras Hugo

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No