My daughter swims for USS Swim Club in Ohio. SHe has been dealing with a Rhomboid strain in her shoulder for almost a year now. This injury mostly occures when swimming butterfly. However repetitive motions for a prolonged period also seem to irritate the shoulder.
I am looking for advice because the problem seems to stem from Swimming butterfly. Long Course season started and she was doing very well - no shoulder pain until they swam fly in the last practice.
My questions are as follows:
1.) Is there a way that she can train and continue to provide additional strength with butterfly? Or is it best to just not deal with the butterfly until the shoulder is in better condition and closer to full recovery?
2.) What would be the best training method for a swimmer with shoulder injury?
3.) Is more laps always better training? Can she achieve the same benefit or better training by swimming less laps with a specific purpose during practice?
Coaching advice is welcome and appreciated - as I am concerned for her welfare. She has very high goals and I would like to help her achieve her goals without injury.
Thank you!
Parents
Former Member
I really didn't clarify all of the measures we have been through. This has been an off and on kind of thing for almost a year now.
She is 13 years old and............... been to a family physician and diagnosed with scoliosis. Since then an Sports Medicin / Orthopedic surgeon has disclaimed the scoliosis and stated that it was a romboid strain in the shoulder muscle.
Last years coaching staff was very good. She elimintated all upper body movement and was kicking only for 2 1/2 months. She then slowly matured to a full 1 1/2 - 2 hours of practice. However, at the end of the winter season - she was still not using pull bouys or paddles, limiting the number of fly laps etc.
This year we have a new AGGRESSIVE coach. She went for four (4) weeks of practice without any problems with her shoulder and it seemed to be strengthening up pretty well.
Lots of yardage of fly is not the case - they only did appoximately 800 yards of fly / fly drill / kick. This is not alot so therefore from everything I have read the problem could be her technique. I personally think she should not swim fly at all until she has had several months of training without the butterfly and all seems well. Then they can work on the fly technique and go from there slowly. But I've been told by the coach - not our doctor - that would not help???? This seems like a long time and she is frustrated because she wants to train and be healthy again!!!
She has another appointment with the Sports medicine - orthopedic but in the meantime I was looking for experiences and advice on this matter because as a mother - I'm starting to get confused as to who is RIGHT!
I appreciate hearing from everyone. Thank you very much!
I really didn't clarify all of the measures we have been through. This has been an off and on kind of thing for almost a year now.
She is 13 years old and............... been to a family physician and diagnosed with scoliosis. Since then an Sports Medicin / Orthopedic surgeon has disclaimed the scoliosis and stated that it was a romboid strain in the shoulder muscle.
Last years coaching staff was very good. She elimintated all upper body movement and was kicking only for 2 1/2 months. She then slowly matured to a full 1 1/2 - 2 hours of practice. However, at the end of the winter season - she was still not using pull bouys or paddles, limiting the number of fly laps etc.
This year we have a new AGGRESSIVE coach. She went for four (4) weeks of practice without any problems with her shoulder and it seemed to be strengthening up pretty well.
Lots of yardage of fly is not the case - they only did appoximately 800 yards of fly / fly drill / kick. This is not alot so therefore from everything I have read the problem could be her technique. I personally think she should not swim fly at all until she has had several months of training without the butterfly and all seems well. Then they can work on the fly technique and go from there slowly. But I've been told by the coach - not our doctor - that would not help???? This seems like a long time and she is frustrated because she wants to train and be healthy again!!!
She has another appointment with the Sports medicine - orthopedic but in the meantime I was looking for experiences and advice on this matter because as a mother - I'm starting to get confused as to who is RIGHT!
I appreciate hearing from everyone. Thank you very much!
