So it would seem my low back is getting better now that I'm not overdoing the kickboard. I've since just switched to simple freestyle, doing about 10-20 touch and goes with fins and webbed gloves.
Last week my right neck and shoulder had been bothering me as a result and it doesn't seem to be going away despite me doing stretching every day.
So to date, since I have started swimming a few months ago I have had low back pain, elbow pain and now neck/shoulder pain. Everyone raves about how "low impact" swimming is- and I'd be happy to believe that because I am LOVING this new exercise- but I'm starting to wonder if I'm doing something terribly wrong or is this just something I need to "power through" as a newbie who is developing new muscle usage?
I really hope I can get through this because swimming is so fun and my heart rate and BP have been amazing since I started in this very short time.
Swimming IS low impact, and, yes I am willing to bet you ARE doing something terribly wrong. Do NOT power through ANYTHING if you are feeling PAIN. :nono:
What are you doing terribly wrong? We (us Forumites reading your post) won't know unless we see video of your stroke technique. I highly recommend you have somebody shoot good, close-up video of your strokes. If you can get underwater footage, all the better. Upload the videos (25 yards each of your strokes is enough) and post them here on this thread. Your fellow Forumites will view the videos and offer tips on how to improve your strokes and avoid injury.
More suggestions:
1. Ditch the kickboard, fins, and webbed gloves for now until you get your stroke technique analyzed. You also need to build up strength and endurance without the toys before you add them back in.
2. Do dynamic stretching/warm-up exercises before you swim and static stretching after each swim session. Research both first to learn how to do them properly. (You say you stretch everyday, but are you doing it properly?)
3. Check out this book: www.amazon.com/.../ref=sr_1_1
It was my "bible" when I was a newbie Masters swimmer after 31 years out of the pool.
4. Get some coaching if possible. Since I didn't live close enough to a team, I trained on my own with the guidance of a part-time coach I hired by the hour. It was the best $ spent.
Good luck!
:cheerleader:
P.S. Where in California are you from? I'm a native, born and raised in Long Beach. I lived in San Diego most of my life.Eliane, I used to lived there from 1963 to 1996. Its too expensive now. I learn to swim in Gardenia Ca in red cross. I swam on a novice team there in 1969 and moved to Orange County at the end of 1969 and swaim on novice and AAU teams and high school and community college.
Swimming IS low impact, and, yes I am willing to bet you ARE doing something terribly wrong. Do NOT power through ANYTHING if you are feeling PAIN. :nono:
What are you doing terribly wrong? We (us Forumites reading your post) won't know unless we see video of your stroke technique. I highly recommend you have somebody shoot good, close-up video of your strokes. If you can get underwater footage, all the better. Upload the videos (25 yards each of your strokes is enough) and post them here on this thread. Your fellow Forumites will view the videos and offer tips on how to improve your strokes and avoid injury.
More suggestions:
1. Ditch the kickboard, fins, and webbed gloves for now until you get your stroke technique analyzed. You also need to build up strength and endurance without the toys before you add them back in.
2. Do dynamic stretching/warm-up exercises before you swim and static stretching after each swim session. Research both first to learn how to do them properly. (You say you stretch everyday, but are you doing it properly?)
3. Check out this book: www.amazon.com/.../ref=sr_1_1
It was my "bible" when I was a newbie Masters swimmer after 31 years out of the pool.
4. Get some coaching if possible. Since I didn't live close enough to a team, I trained on my own with the guidance of a part-time coach I hired by the hour. It was the best $ spent.
Good luck!
:cheerleader:
P.S. Where in California are you from? I'm a native, born and raised in Long Beach. I lived in San Diego most of my life.Eliane, I used to lived there from 1963 to 1996. Its too expensive now. I learn to swim in Gardenia Ca in red cross. I swam on a novice team there in 1969 and moved to Orange County at the end of 1969 and swaim on novice and AAU teams and high school and community college.
