This critical review reveals that the existing medical literature does not provide precise estimates for complication rates following the therapeutic use of injected or systemic corticosteroids in the treatment of athletic injuries. Tendon and fascial ruptures are often reported complications of injected corticosteroids, whereas tibial stress fractures and multifocal osteonecrosis were described with systemic corticosteroids.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) results from compression of the neurovascular structures that pass through the thoracic outlet. TOS may be classified as neurogenic TOS (NTOS), venous TOS (VTOS), or arterial TOS (ATOS). NTOS presents with upper-extremity symptoms attributable to compression of the brachial plexus. VTOS, also known as Paget-Schröetter Syndrome, involves subclavian-axillary venous occlusion, thrombus formation, and rare embolization. ATOS results from obstruction of the subclavian artery with claudication, thrombus formation, and possible embolization. Adjunct diagnostic studies frequently confirm the diagnoses of VTOS and ATOS, but not of NTOS. Successful TOS treatment depends on the establishment of an accurate diagnosis and identification of causative factors. NTOS should be treated initially with physical therapy, but may require surgical decompression, including first rib excision and scalenectomy. VTOS usually requires urgent thrombolysis, anticoagulation, and surgical decompression. The treatment of ATOS is directed at restoring arterial blood flow in addition to surgical decompression.

Competitive swimmers are affected by several musculoskeletal and medical complaints that are unique to the sport. 'Swimmer's shoulder,' the most common overuse injury, is usually caused by some combination of impingement, rotator cuff tendinopathy, scapular dyskinesis, and instability. The condition may be treated with training modifications, stroke error correction, and strengthening exercises targeting the rotator cuff, scapular stabilizers, and core. Implementation of prevention programs to reduce the prevalence of shoulder pathology is crucial. Knee pain usually results from the breaststroke kick in swimmers, and the 'egg beater' kick in water polo players and synchronized swimmers. Lumbar back pain also is common in aquatics athletes. Among the medical conditions of particular importance in swimmers are exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, respiratory illnesses, and ear problems. Participants in other aquatics sports (water polo, diving, synchronized swimming, and open water swimming) may experience medical ailments specific to the sport.

Thirty-six competitive breaststroke swimmers were interviewed and examined for knee pain specifically related to the breaststroke kick. Eighty-six percent of the subjects had a history of at least one episode of breaststroke knee pain, while 47.2% had breaststroke knee pain that occurred at least once a week. There was a significant relationship between more frequent knee pain and increasing swimmer's age, increasing years of competitive swimming, increasing breaststroke training distance, and decreasing warm-up distance. The subjects with frequent knee pain were found to have less internal rotation at the hip joint. The most common site of breaststroke knee pain was the medial portion of the knee, with specific sites differing among the individuals. The medial synovial plica syndrome may be a cause of breaststroke knee pain, since 47% of subjects with weekly knee pain had tender, thickened medial plicae. Palpation of those plicae produced pain similar to that experienced with the breaststroke kick. The findings in this study suggest that reducing or eliminating breaststroke training distance should be an initial measure in treatment. Applications of ice, changes in kick technique, stretching exercises to increase hip rotation, and administration of aspirin may also be effective. The breaststroke training distance should be increased very gradually in the early season, and warm-up distance should be adequate to help prevent the symptoms of breaststroker's knee.