Hi fellow swimmers!
I'm looking for any advice that you may be able to provide. I started swimming about 2 months ago and joined the masters team 1 month ago. I've been swimming anywhere from 3-5 days/week. Before 2 months ago I did not swim regularly at all and never really developed any techniques.
I've started having neck pain over the past 3 weeks that is situated right where my neck meets my shoulder. It doesn't necessarily hurt while swimming, but throughout the day the pain seems to increase. It almost feels bruised inside. I thought maybe I did too much kicking with a kickboard so I stopped using a kickboard a week ago. Pain still continues. My chiropractor just told me I'm likely using new muscles.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Jason
The front snorkel (finis) can help. Bilateral breathing may lighten the load too, but check with your coach to make sure the issue isn't from form first.
While the rest have advice on the why part of this, I have a suggestion for how to make it feel better short term. I keep a tennis ball both at work and home. When I have tight spots like that I put the ball between the sore spot and a wall (or the floor), using it to put pressure on the muscle and massage it. It helps a ton!
Former Member
You might not be rotating enough in your stroke and as a result, when you breathe, you're having to turn your head too much causing some neck strain.
I used to have terrible bouts of neck pain that would keep me bedridden for several days at a time. I tried cold compresses and visits to a chiropractor. The only things that work for me are neck exercises described in the book "Your Miraculous Back." These exercises involve gentle movements to loosen the neck vertebrae. I do the neck exercises daily. They take about 5 minutes. They really helped relieve my neck pain. I have been chiropractic-free and have had no bouts of neck pain for one year.
