I swim relatively straight (I always stay one side of the lane, even if no one else is the lane). In fact maybe too straight. My masters coach used to say I'm "swimming on a board." I use bialateral breathing and do not thrash my noggin, but I suffer from chronic upper neck pains. I know the pain is caused by swimming because when I stopped swimming last year the pain went away.
I'm assuming my problems are because of the way I'm rotating my neck. Is it possible I'm not bringing my neck back far enough?Too far back?
Any suggestions?
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Former Member
330man - I agree with you - there are a lot of injuries being discussed on this board. I feel bad for you all who are having problems with back, shoulders, necks etc.
Luke, I agree with 330man: with enough body roll you shouldn't have to rotate your neck much. I wonder whether you may be looking forward too much instead of down at the bottom of the pool. This (looking forward) could make your neck extensors (the muscles that "bend" your neck back) work overtime and that may be feeding into your pain pattern. I am not saying that this is what you are doing, but next time you swim you may want to check to see that your neck is in a neutral position, that is neither tucked nor bent back. Just a thought and suggestion. Hope your neck feels better soon!:)
330man - I agree with you - there are a lot of injuries being discussed on this board. I feel bad for you all who are having problems with back, shoulders, necks etc.
Luke, I agree with 330man: with enough body roll you shouldn't have to rotate your neck much. I wonder whether you may be looking forward too much instead of down at the bottom of the pool. This (looking forward) could make your neck extensors (the muscles that "bend" your neck back) work overtime and that may be feeding into your pain pattern. I am not saying that this is what you are doing, but next time you swim you may want to check to see that your neck is in a neutral position, that is neither tucked nor bent back. Just a thought and suggestion. Hope your neck feels better soon!:)
