My therapist suggested that I return to full stroke swimming even though I am not fully recovered from my injury. My rotator muscles are still relatively weak and have a low level of stamina but he thinks that swimming without PAIN will speed the recovery process. It should help me gain stamina and strength as well as allow my cuff muscles to re-coordinate themselves with each other. I was swimming about a mile a day when I was injured so where should I aim for now? The therapist said to stay away from pain but left it at that. Should I cut it down to 800 yards pain free? Should I swim a mile if I can do it pain free? I am also planning on doing my exercises after I swim so that my shoulders are fresh when I get in the water. Is that a good plan?
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Originally posted by gull80
I think you're on the right track, just be patient. A few thoughts:
1. You might try swimming with a pull buoy or fins for some of your sets--this may take some strain off your shoulder and allow you to swim further.
2. Swim every other day instead of every day for awhile.
3. Use ice both after swimming and again at bedtime.
4. I really believe in treating the inflammation (pain=inflammation) with antiinflammatory drugs like Aleve, although the safety of chronic use has been questioned recently.
Thanks Gull, I appreciate the input. My only concern about using NSAID's was that I might mask pain that I should not be swimming through. As far as chronic use goes, are you reffering to the COX1/stomach bleeding issue or the controversy over COX2 drugs such as Celebrex?
EDIT: I should also add that I will not be seeing a PT anymore after seeing my last EOB from BlueCross. I am going to continue with the exercise program but I will have to live without the massage and transdermal anti-inflamatory. The popping in my shoulders is actually more annoying that the small amount of pain that I am still feeling. As long as the popping is pain free there is no reason not to continue with exercise, correct?
Originally posted by gull80
I think you're on the right track, just be patient. A few thoughts:
1. You might try swimming with a pull buoy or fins for some of your sets--this may take some strain off your shoulder and allow you to swim further.
2. Swim every other day instead of every day for awhile.
3. Use ice both after swimming and again at bedtime.
4. I really believe in treating the inflammation (pain=inflammation) with antiinflammatory drugs like Aleve, although the safety of chronic use has been questioned recently.
Thanks Gull, I appreciate the input. My only concern about using NSAID's was that I might mask pain that I should not be swimming through. As far as chronic use goes, are you reffering to the COX1/stomach bleeding issue or the controversy over COX2 drugs such as Celebrex?
EDIT: I should also add that I will not be seeing a PT anymore after seeing my last EOB from BlueCross. I am going to continue with the exercise program but I will have to live without the massage and transdermal anti-inflamatory. The popping in my shoulders is actually more annoying that the small amount of pain that I am still feeling. As long as the popping is pain free there is no reason not to continue with exercise, correct?
