This is from one of my favorite current swimming exprets, Brent Rushhall of San Diego State University.
www-rohan.sdsu.edu/.../table.htm
Parker, J. (1989). Wiping your swimmers out. Swimming Technique, May-July, 10-16.
The process of the destruction of muscle (rhabdomyolysis) is commonly found in runners, particularly after completing a marathon. There is little evidence that rhabdomyolysis causes performance decrement. Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme found in muscle cells which catalyzes the formation of phosphocreatine from creatine and ATP. It is not normally found in the blood in large quantities unless muscle cells have been damaged. Increased CK activity is a marker for excessive strain.
In one day, an elite swimmer burns more calories than a runner in a marathon. Since many swimmers train at least 3-5 hours a day six days per week, a great strain is placed on their bodies. Muscle degeneration could result from consistent exercise at elevated intensities. Muscle problems can exist with degeneration and inflammation occurring while discomfort is tolerable (low pain). Overuse injury syndrome is frequently seen in "swimmer's shoulder" (a pathology of the rotator cuff) and "breaststroker's knee" (injury to the medial colateral ligament and/or medial patellar facet due to the highly unusual action in the breaststroke kick). Possible other causes are protein and iron deficiencies, the oxidative capacity of muscle cells, and glycogen stores. Psychological conditions result in "burn-out."
Implication. The threat of overtraining can be reduced without it affecting the performance of the athlete. Yardage can be reduced and the training stimulus changed to interval work of greater quality and less volume.
". overtrained runners do not lose their conditioning, but they may demonstrate a deterioration in running form. . . .overtraining may cause some local muscular fatigue through selective glycogen depletion, forcing runners to alter their mechanics to achieve the same pace."(p. 198)
Lot more interesting stuff at:
www-rohan.sdsu.edu/.../table.htm
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Originally posted by breastroker
Connie, I disagree some what on your statement of high reps and low weights being best. I will always prefer being able to do 10 reps on the superpullover at 240 pounds rather than 40 reps at 120 pounds.
I guess that too would depend on what someone is trying to builg up to. I can see reasons for both.
I probably should have mentioned in my last post that I was thinking from a perspective from a relative beginner, which I think Zirconium might be. My guess would be that his smaller swimming muscles and tendons aren't as developed as in someone who has been swimming forever. He probably needs to balance out to start with, before proceeding to build more large muscle.
For someone like you, having swam most of your life, you probably don't have to let your smaller muscles grow into the swimming shape, you're probably after more sprinting power, in which case, you're right, higher weight would be helpful with that.
There are couple of things that I'm considerting while thinking about this:
Having read tons of Rushall's stuff over last few days, I keep remembering his writings state that he doesn't really recommend higher weights. Of course, higher weight might be very subjective to the individuals, their training goals and their physiology. I have to go digging to find a link to that text.
The other is purely anecdotal. In my case, having done some other sports, and some gym working out over the years, my larger muscles are sligthly disproportionately stronger then my smaller muscles. What happens to me in sprints is that I have enough power to strain the rotator cuff's smaller parts, and get hurt. What happens then instead of continuing to train, I have to lay off for few weeks, and on the long run actually lose out.
I went to see a friend of mine, who specializes in athletic strength training for various sports, and that was exactly his assesment. That I have plenty of power in the bigger muscles for now, but the little ones (muscles and tendons) need a lot of work just to be able to support the bigger ones without the injury. It shows in some free weight and balance ball exercises. I can move a lot more weight then I can move without wobbling. He wants me to not use any higher weight then what I can move without a wobble, or with a slight wobble and still maintaining proper form, and higher reps.
Part of his commentary was that he sees that pretty often with people new to various sports. They often have the bigger muscles, but not the 'infrastructure' to support them.
So with someone relatively new to swimming I'd be really hesitant recommending higher weight, untill after the the core strenghth and stability is assesed.
Another thought on the whole thing, which I'm not sure how it relates to the weights, look at the accomplished swimmers physiques, they more closely resemble gymnasts then body builders.
Zirconium, if I were you, I'd invest in a few appointments with a knowledgeable personal trainer to see if and where you might have weak links, and work on those first. What you want is balanced development for the sport you want to participate in. Swimming is very technique intensive, in a medium which doesn't allow you to fix or isolate any movements, so overall balanced body development and core strength is pretty important.
Originally posted by breastroker
Connie, I disagree some what on your statement of high reps and low weights being best. I will always prefer being able to do 10 reps on the superpullover at 240 pounds rather than 40 reps at 120 pounds.
I guess that too would depend on what someone is trying to builg up to. I can see reasons for both.
I probably should have mentioned in my last post that I was thinking from a perspective from a relative beginner, which I think Zirconium might be. My guess would be that his smaller swimming muscles and tendons aren't as developed as in someone who has been swimming forever. He probably needs to balance out to start with, before proceeding to build more large muscle.
For someone like you, having swam most of your life, you probably don't have to let your smaller muscles grow into the swimming shape, you're probably after more sprinting power, in which case, you're right, higher weight would be helpful with that.
There are couple of things that I'm considerting while thinking about this:
Having read tons of Rushall's stuff over last few days, I keep remembering his writings state that he doesn't really recommend higher weights. Of course, higher weight might be very subjective to the individuals, their training goals and their physiology. I have to go digging to find a link to that text.
The other is purely anecdotal. In my case, having done some other sports, and some gym working out over the years, my larger muscles are sligthly disproportionately stronger then my smaller muscles. What happens to me in sprints is that I have enough power to strain the rotator cuff's smaller parts, and get hurt. What happens then instead of continuing to train, I have to lay off for few weeks, and on the long run actually lose out.
I went to see a friend of mine, who specializes in athletic strength training for various sports, and that was exactly his assesment. That I have plenty of power in the bigger muscles for now, but the little ones (muscles and tendons) need a lot of work just to be able to support the bigger ones without the injury. It shows in some free weight and balance ball exercises. I can move a lot more weight then I can move without wobbling. He wants me to not use any higher weight then what I can move without a wobble, or with a slight wobble and still maintaining proper form, and higher reps.
Part of his commentary was that he sees that pretty often with people new to various sports. They often have the bigger muscles, but not the 'infrastructure' to support them.
So with someone relatively new to swimming I'd be really hesitant recommending higher weight, untill after the the core strenghth and stability is assesed.
Another thought on the whole thing, which I'm not sure how it relates to the weights, look at the accomplished swimmers physiques, they more closely resemble gymnasts then body builders.
Zirconium, if I were you, I'd invest in a few appointments with a knowledgeable personal trainer to see if and where you might have weak links, and work on those first. What you want is balanced development for the sport you want to participate in. Swimming is very technique intensive, in a medium which doesn't allow you to fix or isolate any movements, so overall balanced body development and core strength is pretty important.
