Hey Y'all --
I used to be a runner. After decades of accumulating running injuries, I've given it up. Since last May I started swimming for exercise, am starting to get the hang of it.
Need your advice with something. My shoulders ache for a few days after a swim. It seems to be the rotator cuffs. I believe it is caused by the shoulder joint feeling like it wants to "pop" when I start a pull from full extended position (any stroke). Possibly the muscles that oppose the pull need strengthening(?).
Here's what I am thinking of doing. (1) Continue to swim, but go easy for a while. (2) Be sure to warm up, cool down, and stretch. (3) Ice down the shoulders after swim and before bedtime. (4) Do some 5 pound dumbbell work with the shoulder muscles, go to 10 pounds next week. (5) Advil.
Question: Does this look like a reasonable plan? Any other advice?
Thanks!!
RC
Parents
Former Member
Thanks to everyone for your help. I will heed your wise counsel.
During my lunch break I went over to the pool and asked a total stranger to look at my attempted crawl stroke. She said that I was "overcrossing" (I was hitting the middle), plus my body rotation wasn't right, reflecting that I am wasting some energy pushing upward (rather than forward). Both of these probably contribute to the shoulder ache. She also said some things about my body position, breathing and kicking, but it was too much for me to absorb. (Man, this is surprisingly technical). Still, I've come a long way since last May, when all I could do was the doggie paddle.
Thanks to everyone for your help. I will heed your wise counsel.
During my lunch break I went over to the pool and asked a total stranger to look at my attempted crawl stroke. She said that I was "overcrossing" (I was hitting the middle), plus my body rotation wasn't right, reflecting that I am wasting some energy pushing upward (rather than forward). Both of these probably contribute to the shoulder ache. She also said some things about my body position, breathing and kicking, but it was too much for me to absorb. (Man, this is surprisingly technical). Still, I've come a long way since last May, when all I could do was the doggie paddle.
