HELP!!!
I am starting to have left knee pain, and now some sharp right hip pain when swimming breaststroke. I know enough that I have to take some time off from swimming breaststroke, but what should I look at after the pains go away so that I do not repeat this injury.
Sort of upsetting because this is my favorite stroke. Perhaps, it's just me getting old and the warranty has run out, but in 32 years of swimming I have never had this amount of pain from the kick.
Thoughts, suggestions?
Thanks!
-Chris
Chris,
Many times, knee pain is caused by an imbalance between the quadriceps and the hamstrings - usually the hamstrings becoming tighter (i.e. more contracted). It usually shows up on the inside of the knee, but not always. If you are not doing any kind of hamstring stretch or quadricep stretching, this is the first thing I have my swimmers do. Generally, strengthening of one of the other is less an issue.
It can also be caused by an imbalance between the abductors and adductors of the leg (inside and outside muscles of the upper leg). There are stretches for these as well as strengthening exercises.
The right hip could be an imbalance with the left side which is causing some of your left knee pain. There are hip stretches as well - like the "figure 4" that stretch the piriformis and glutes.
If various stretches do not help, visiting your local PT might be a good idea. I always liked getting a good massage as well.
If those don't work, you might have to go the next step to see if there is ligament/structural damage.
Good Luck
Paul
Chris,
Many times, knee pain is caused by an imbalance between the quadriceps and the hamstrings - usually the hamstrings becoming tighter (i.e. more contracted). It usually shows up on the inside of the knee, but not always. If you are not doing any kind of hamstring stretch or quadricep stretching, this is the first thing I have my swimmers do. Generally, strengthening of one of the other is less an issue.
It can also be caused by an imbalance between the abductors and adductors of the leg (inside and outside muscles of the upper leg). There are stretches for these as well as strengthening exercises.
The right hip could be an imbalance with the left side which is causing some of your left knee pain. There are hip stretches as well - like the "figure 4" that stretch the piriformis and glutes.
If various stretches do not help, visiting your local PT might be a good idea. I always liked getting a good massage as well.
If those don't work, you might have to go the next step to see if there is ligament/structural damage.
Good Luck
Paul
