Anyone have experience continuing to swim with "golfers' elbow" (aka: medial epicondylitis)? I've got a slight case of it...I don't play golf...I'm sure it's the result of swinging an axe to take out a couple of shrubs a few weeks ago. I've researched it on the web and all my symptoms point to it being golfers elbow. It's tendonitis at the inner RIGHT elbow (for right handlers) right where the tendon attached to that pointy bone on the inside of the elbow. I've been trying to self-treat it with massage, ice, and NSAIDs. It's not affecting my strength...YET. But it's not getting any better. Probably slowly getting worse. I'm not asking medical advice from the internet...I'm probably going to end up going to the doctor for it. Just wondering if anyone has had it, and if the pressure on your hand from swimming will make it worse?
Dan
Dan,
I occasionally get this while doing backstroke because of the angles and the forces. When it is tender, I change my stroke a bit or lay off the power for a few days. If your freestyle catch is a very high elbow/early vertical forearm, you might be aggravating it a bit as well.
If that is the case, adjust your catch to be deeper in the water and under your body (vs outside). This will eliminate some of the torquing on your elbow. Best thing is just back off the power and swim slower for a while - along with the self treatment you are doing.
Good Luck!
Paul
Dan,
I occasionally get this while doing backstroke because of the angles and the forces. When it is tender, I change my stroke a bit or lay off the power for a few days. If your freestyle catch is a very high elbow/early vertical forearm, you might be aggravating it a bit as well.
If that is the case, adjust your catch to be deeper in the water and under your body (vs outside). This will eliminate some of the torquing on your elbow. Best thing is just back off the power and swim slower for a while - along with the self treatment you are doing.
Good Luck!
Paul
