Diving (Care of the Young Athlete)

Shoulder injuries

Shoulder injuries typically occur during water entry when arms extended overhead get forced back. Athletes usually feel the shoulder pop out of joint when their shoulders are dislocated. Most of the time the shoulder goes back into the joint on its own; this is called a subluxation (partial dislocation). If the athlete requires help to get it back in, it is called a dislocation. Risk of dislocation recurrence is high for youth participating in these sports. Shoulder strengthening exercises, braces and, in some cases, surgery may be recommended to prevent recurrence.

Chronic shoulder pain is usually due to a pinching of the rotator cuff (the tendons around the top of the shoulder). This is more common in athletes with weak shoulder blade muscles. Symptoms include a dull pain or achiness over the front or side of the shoulder that worsens when the arm is overhead. Treatment involves exercises to strengthen the shoulder blade muscles and the rotator cuff.

Neck injuries

Repetitive extension of the neck on water entry can cause an irritation of the neck joints. This results in muscle spasms and stiffness when rotating the neck or looking up. Athletes with tingling or burning down the arm may have a cervical disc herniation or "stinger" and should see a doctor. Stingers are stretch injuries to the nerves in the neck and spine. Because the force of impact is greater with 10-meter platform diving, there are more complaints of neck problems with tower divers.

Elbow injuries

Elbow pain can occur when an athlete's elbow hyperextends on entry into the water. The ulnar nerve ("funny bone") can be stretched and cause pain, numbness, or burning down the arm into the fingers. If the ligament of the elbow is stretched, it can cause pain, weakness, and instability of the elbow. Athletes with pain on the outside of the elbow may have a condition called osteochondritis dissecans. This condition can cause an inability to straighten the elbow and locking, catching, or swelling of the elbow. X-rays may be needed to confirm diagnosis.

Wrist/hand injuries

When divers enter the water, they grasp their hands one on top of the other with the palm facing toward the water. As they try to "punch" a hole in the water, the wrist gets bent backward. Doing this repetitively causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and irritation of the wrist joint. This can be treated with rest, ice, and nonsteroidal anti­inflammatory drugs. Taping or bracing the wrist can also prevent further injury.

When divers reach for the water and attempt to grasp their hands for entry, they occasionally hyperextend the thumb. This causes a sprain to the base of the thumb. Symptoms include pain, swelling, instability, and weakness of the thumb. This can be treated, and may be prevented, by taping the thumb while diving. Occasionally, a custom thumb splint or even surgery is necessary to stabilize the thumb.

Low back pain

Spondylolysis, stress fractures of the bones in the lower spine, is due to overuse from arching or extending of the back. Symptoms include low back pain that feels worse with back extension activities. Back or reverse dives are often more painful. Treatment of spondylolysis includes rest from diving, physical therapy to improve flexibility and low back and core (trunk) strength, and possibly a back brace. Athletes with low back pain for longer than 2 weeks should see a doctor. X-rays are usually normal so other tests are often needed to diagnose spondylolysis. Successful treatment requires early recognition of the problem and timely treatment.

Disc injury may cause low back pain that occurs with flexion—including pike and tuck dives. The pain is usually worse on one side, extends into the buttock, and occasionally down the leg. Disc-related pain can also occur with sitting, lifting, jumping, and twisting. Successful treatment requires early recognition of the problem and timely treatment.

Knee injuries

There are thousands of jumps in practice for each dive seen in competition. Jumping causes pressure on the kneecap and can result in pain in the front of the knee. Patellar tendonitis (also called jumper's knee) causes pain just below the kneecap. Treatment requires identifying and addressing the causes of the pain.

The number of dives performed; dry land training; poor flexibility; strength imbalances; and malalignment of the hips, knees, and feet can also contribute to knee pain. Because corrective shoes, orthotics, and knee braces aren't practical while diving, physical therapy, patellar taping, and training modifications are the mainstays of therapy.