What positioning is required for a patient during the Swimmer's View?

The Swimmer's View is specifically designed to visualize the cervicothoracic region and is particularly useful for assessing the upper thoracic vertebrae and the surrounding structures. For this view, the patient is positioned laterally with one arm positioned forward while the other arm is either extended downward or placed behind the back. This positioning helps to reduce the overlapping of the shoulders and allows for a clearer view of the area of interest. By bringing one arm forward, the scapula is moved away from the spine, creating a more unobstructed path for the X-ray beam to capture the desired anatomical details. Overall, this technique is vital for obtaining high-quality images of the cervicothoracic junction, which can often be obscured by the shoulders in standard positioning.