The motions involved in the sport make shoulder injuries one of the more common problems.  The shoulder is a very dynamic joint that depends greatly on the surrounding capsule and musculature for its stabilization.  It is not uncommon for a swimmer to develop a rotator cuff syndrome, most often involving the supraspinatus muscle.  This muscle in particular can become a problem for swimmers, especially those swimmers who use the butterfly stroke.  Each of the muscles surrounding the shoulder may need to be treated individually using Active Release Technique to attain full recovery.

Another problem that can arise in swimmers is adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.  This problem will seriously debilitate the swimmer's ability to perform.