Hey guys and gals,
I have a quick question. I haven't swam rigorously since high school which was 4 years ago. I'm getting back into it right now, and my shoulders start hurting after doing just 2 100s. Is it just because I haven't used them in this manner in a long time? What can I do to swim longer without having this pain? I stretch a lot before working out, so that can't be it. Do I just need to keep swimming so that I can get used to it?
Thanks,
Greg
Hi Greg, Welcome back to swimming! Getting back into training after several years away from the pool is tricky. As a competitive swimmer, you are now tempted to put the same amount of effort into swimming as you did before, expecting that you will be at the same level. However, four years away is a long time and your body may not be able to do what your mind thinks it can - at least for now. If you approach your training with the understanding that you are starting off at a lower level, it will be much easier to build back up to competitive shape while avoiding injuries. I actually wrote an article on The Motivation to Train which you might find helpful (www.swimspire.com/.../). The shoulder pain is likely coming from your technique (whether from the way you are executing the pull, the recovery, the entry into the water or from an imbalance in your stroke overall, etc) which may have even been present when you were training previously but was not as apparent since you were in good swimming shape. I would suggest getting your stroke analyzed to see what areas you need to improve upon. This way, you can continue to build endurance while placing less pressure on your joints. Good luck! Julia
Hi Greg, Welcome back to swimming! Getting back into training after several years away from the pool is tricky. As a competitive swimmer, you are now tempted to put the same amount of effort into swimming as you did before, expecting that you will be at the same level. However, four years away is a long time and your body may not be able to do what your mind thinks it can - at least for now. If you approach your training with the understanding that you are starting off at a lower level, it will be much easier to build back up to competitive shape while avoiding injuries. I actually wrote an article on The Motivation to Train which you might find helpful (www.swimspire.com/.../). The shoulder pain is likely coming from your technique (whether from the way you are executing the pull, the recovery, the entry into the water or from an imbalance in your stroke overall, etc) which may have even been present when you were training previously but was not as apparent since you were in good swimming shape. I would suggest getting your stroke analyzed to see what areas you need to improve upon. This way, you can continue to build endurance while placing less pressure on your joints. Good luck! Julia
