The latissimus dorsi (lats) are distinct muscles in swimmers. Hypertrophy or excessive muscle mass gives swimmers the traditional, V-shape, with wide shoulders and narrow hips. Unfortunately, tight lats cause havoc in many swimmers', especially masters swimmers, biomechanics. Latissimus dorsi Lower Thoracic SP (T7-T12) Thoracolumbar fascia (Posterior 1/3 iliac crest) (Ribs 9-12) (Inferior angle scapula) Medial border bicipital groove (Crest of the lesser tuberosity humerus) Add GH Ext GH IR GH Horiz Abduct GH Retract Scapula Down Rotate Scapula Depress Scapula Thoracodorsal nerve (C6-C8) Allan Phillips wrote about a few stroke flaws associated with tight lats: "Hula hooping – Stiffness, or asymmetry in stiffness, may contribute to wiggling hips during long axis swimming. Though some spinal side bending may occur (perhaps more than once thought), poorly controlled sidebending may trigger hula hooping. Dropped elbows - Lat stiffness may also make it difficult for swimmers to create an early vertical forearm during the catch. The shoulder is most commonly analyzed in the catch, but as noted in the literature, the shoulder may be directly affected by lat conditions. Ineffective body undulation - Because the lat connection in within the pelvis, it plays an important role in undulation during short axis and during underwater kicking. Though not often discussed in lower body stroke correction, consider lat length when addressing low back and pelvis function during the stroke". Determining if you have tight lats requires proper evaluation, intervention, and re-evaluation. The hands over head wall test is a simple test for assessing lat stiffness. Have your athlete against a wall, tuck their chin and flatten their back. Next, have them raise their arms overhead. If stiff, their lats will prevent the arms from reaching the top of the wall. An intervention is a simple self-myofascial release (SMR) of the lats with a foam roll or heavy bar. After performing this intervention, re-check the assessment test. Remember, just having enough lat length doesn't ensure proper swimming biomechanics, but simply gives the athletes the tools for improvement. Proper coaching and motor learning help shape the swimmer's biomechanics, ensure you're providing proper cues for the newly acquired range of motion!