I'm going to see a neck and spine specialist this week to figure out why I have chronic neck pain. I've read on the arthritis foundation website that they don't recommend freestyle swimming - in fact it's one of the exercises they say to Not do - for neck arthritis. I am very much worried that the doctor's going to diagnose arthritis, which runs in my family, and tell me no more freestyle, breaststroke, or any other swimming that requires turning or lifting my head. Aside from using a mask and snorkel, I can't figure out a way around it.
Do any of you have arthritis in your neck? Usually, swimming is one of the best exercises for arthritis, but apparently head turning causes inflammation and pain. Am I to be a part of the shameful shower cap, noodle crowd? Input appreciated.
Prescribing "no movement" seems odd to me. I thought movement was supposed to help, at least to slow down the progression of the disease.
Concur. I'm a firm believer in that whole "A body in motion tends to stay in motion..." thing.
Dan
This is what the Arthritis Foundation website says about neck arthritis exercises:
Do: Walk on a treadmill or in the shallow end of the pool; ride a bike, or cycle on a stationary bike or recumbent cycle; swim, using the backstroke; use elliptical machines; do flexibility neck exercises (such as head turns and tilts); yoga and Pilates; tai chi; warm-water exercises.Don’t: Overhead serves in tennis or volleyball; bikes with racing handlebars; any abdominal exercises with hands behind the head; ski machines; lifting weights above your shoulders; swimming freestyle or using the breaststroke; diving
Thanks for that Denise. I see "Do: ... flexibility neck exercises (such as head turns and tilts)" and "Don't: ... swimming freestyle or using the breaststroke". The latter would seem to be roughly the same as the latter (free == head turns, *** == tilts). Actually, if done correctly, I doubt there is much head tilt happening in modern-day breaststroke. Clearly, ask your doc, but I wonder if mixing in a little bit of free and/or *** with mostly back would be acceptable as "flexibility neck exercises".
I see they also advise not riding a bike with "racing" or drop handlebars, and my custom bike has them. Pfffffft.
You're right, smontanaro, the usual turn in freestyle shouldn't be an issue. I'll see what the doc says, but I'm hoping it's just a disc problem and not arthritis.
I'm in my mid-50s and have never had arthritic issues with my neck. But I do get occasional upper back and neck pain. It's usually due to a misalignment. So, I see a chiropractor on a monthly basis for simple alignment corrections. I know there are some people who don't condone chiropractic treatment, but I've gotten a lot of relief from them with simple realignment manipulation that physicians usually want to correct with surgical procedures. And I'm not against surgery either...when and where it's needed. But chiropractic can possibly be simpler and cheaper in many cases (and may be covered by your healthcare insurance). A good, honest chiropractor will tell you early-on if he doesn't think he can help you. It might be worth it to give it a try.
Dan
Prescribing "no movement" seems odd to me. I thought movement was supposed to help, at least to slow down the progression of the disease. That said, "">www.youtube.com/watch
If you swim freestyle and breaststroke correctly, your neck stays in alignment without a twisting or lifting motion. In freestyle, you should rotate your core at the waist rather than turn your head to breathe. In breaststroke, you should be looking down into the water (rather than straight ahead) when you breathe as if you have a neck brace on. The cervical portion of your spine should remain in alignment with the thoracic part of your spine.
I have a boatload of cervical spine problems (bridging osteophytes, degenerative disc disease in three discs, and more...); BUT, I have NO neck pain now BECAUSE I swim, and do Theraband PT exercises and yoga after I swim. Seriously, if you saw my x-rays, you would have the same frightened look on your face as my doctor did when she called me out to the hallway to look over my x-rays.
I would recommend watching videos of proper freestyle and breaststroke technique on YouTube and play close attention to the neck movement (or lack thereof) in each one. A safe bet would be watching Total Immersion or Go Swim videos; or, catch videos on Swimspire's website.
PT would also be recommended, so you can learn proper exercises for your specific needs.
Good luck!
:cheerleader:
Saw the doc and no arthritis, phew. He says even if it's a bulging disc I can swim, and in fact, it's good for me. I can lift weights and do anything I want, so I'm off to the pool tomorrow before pt.
There is a British swimming regime called the Shaw Method, based on the Alexander Technique of relaxation. It's principally for teaching people to swim who tense-up in the water, particularly in their neck and shoulders. It's obvious you are an experienced swimmer and certainly not nervous of water, but it might have some application for you that you could investigate and adapt.
