Well, it's back - that darned medial epicondylitis. On both elbows, too. This is about the 3rd or 4th time. Each time it happens I go to kick sets or bike until the pain is gone; I also do every wrist and forearm exercise I can imagine (grips, wrist curls, rotator and stabilizer exercises). I've tried swimming closed-fisted. I've tried using forearms braces. I've cut out *** stroke altogether. The last few weeks leading up to the re-injury I did nothing but very eeeaassy sidestroke (left side over, right side back). Must I conclude that I just don't have the arms to be even a modest fitness swimmer?
Thanks, y'all.
Parents
Former Member
I had a coach a while back, but after one lesson he never returned.
I have tried to take stroke mechanics out of the equation by doing eeeaassy sidestroke (and I mean reeeaaalllyy eeeeaassy), closed-fisted, and wearing elbow braces. Having said that I'm pretty certain that my technique needs a lot of work. I had been working on front crawl, but put that on hold since last August. I once attempted a single butterfly stroke, at which point the lifeguard tossed in an emergency flotation device and phoned 911.
The injury is very minor, not at all debilitating, and usually goes away after a couple weeks. I fear it will catch up with me as I get older (I'm 43).
If not giving up altogether, I might try going away for a longer period of time, something like 6 months, while continuing to work those forearm exercises and cycling.
I was hoping a coach or veteran might come up with an insight, such as "your baggy suit/bad body position/bad haircut is creating too much drag, and that is putting a strain on your elbows," or "your thumb should be pointing the other way," or "you have the wrong body type for this, and you should try water aerobics and noodling instead."
I appreciate your help.
I had a coach a while back, but after one lesson he never returned.
I have tried to take stroke mechanics out of the equation by doing eeeaassy sidestroke (and I mean reeeaaalllyy eeeeaassy), closed-fisted, and wearing elbow braces. Having said that I'm pretty certain that my technique needs a lot of work. I had been working on front crawl, but put that on hold since last August. I once attempted a single butterfly stroke, at which point the lifeguard tossed in an emergency flotation device and phoned 911.
The injury is very minor, not at all debilitating, and usually goes away after a couple weeks. I fear it will catch up with me as I get older (I'm 43).
If not giving up altogether, I might try going away for a longer period of time, something like 6 months, while continuing to work those forearm exercises and cycling.
I was hoping a coach or veteran might come up with an insight, such as "your baggy suit/bad body position/bad haircut is creating too much drag, and that is putting a strain on your elbows," or "your thumb should be pointing the other way," or "you have the wrong body type for this, and you should try water aerobics and noodling instead."
I appreciate your help.
