Hi Im New

You can also: 1. feel stronger every day. 2. complete your first 1650 yard competition 3. complete your first 5000 meters open water event 4. swim around Manhattan 5. cross the Channel (Dover, England to France) or not.. :D

Paydro, C'mon in the water is fine. We're happy to have you in the group. A couple of words of advice. Please, if there is a group of swimmers anywhere close to where you live, join them. There are a couple of reasons for that: First, they can help you improve your technique. (And there are two reasons you will want to do that...) Your shoulder is feeling odd because you're using muscle groups and ligaments you don't use in other activities. More important, if your technique is poor, you may be at risk of hurting yourself. You don't want to do that. Get some technique instruction and that should help you avoid injury. Another reason your want to do improve your technique is that swimming a length of the pool is MUCH easier if you do it properly. If you would like to read up on technique on your own, on this web site, go to the "Training" menu, and then the "Stroke Technique" tab. Two other web sites I like are www.h2oustonswims.org (click on the "Articles" section) and www.totalimmersion.net (go to the "Free Stuff" menu and click on the "Total Swim Magazine" link). One training tip I would offer: get your head in the water. Novice swimmers would like to have their head, face, neck, and some of their torso out of the water at all times. Bad mistake. Look DOWN, and learn how to turn your head and shoulders to the side (without lifting your head up) to breath. Those black lines on the bottom of the pool are there to help swimmers know when to turn without seeing the opposite wall. Second, working out with a team is more fun. Boredom is the greatest obstacle to maintaining an exercise regime. Having a group of friends, having someone else plan the workout so you don't do the same thing day after day, will keep you mentally fresh. Do NOT be concerned about people judging you. You're all there for fun and personal fulfillment. If anything, you want to show up all sloppy and out of shape as soon as possible. Your teammates will be impressed with how much you improve while swimming with them. Arriving already in shape and knowing everything is much less impressive. Again, welcome, and good luck. Remember you are swimming to please yourself. You can do many different things with swimming. You can enter pool meets, or not, and pick the events you want to swim. You can do open water races, or not. You can use swimming to get in shape for snorkling or scuba diving. You can join a water polo club. Or, you can just show up with your team for the friendship and regular exercise, and leave it at that. It is all entirely up to you. Do what pleases, interests or inspires you. Matt S

Welcome and ditto what the others said! Your shoulder sensations andsounds are most likely due to poor technique... Find a way to work on your freestyle stroke and, remember, don't overdo it at first!

Welcome and ditto what the others said! Your shoulder sensations andsounds are most likely due to poor technique... Find a way to work on your freestyle stroke and, remember, don't overdo it at first!

yeah im really trying no to F**k things up in the begining cause its important i cant do other sports so thats the only way to do things ill take on your advices and let you know how s it going thanks again:)

whats wrong with this picture ive been looking around the forum and searcing a bit on swimming and it seems like EVERYbody has some injury with SHOULDER? its crazy. several surgeries whats with this? it s like a must have swim thing really scary

Swimming is actually a really safe sport. There are much fewer injuries in swimming than in just about any other sport. The only common injury in swimming is shoulder problems, commonly called swimmer's shoulder. This is usually caused by a combination of overuse and bad technique. If you swim more than once a day with bad technique, you will get swimmer's shoulder eventually. If you swim a few times a week with great technique, you are much less likely to get an injury.

Welcome to the sport. I have been reading your replies, I agree you need to work out with a coach to help you improve your stroke. Also maybe some strength training, I find it does make a BIG difference. Also working out with other swimmers make it alot more fun. Go slow enjoy enjoy our sport

i too belive swimming to be the sport with the lowest rate of injurys but my shoulders are really not feeling OK im sure my techique is bad-- what is understandable as i am still learning and i ve been swimming for short time very strange indeed they feel kind of "weak" (besides the poping and clicking sounds) i feel like there is something pushing them foreward (like there is no muscles in the frot of my shoulder and those in the back are pushinh my shoulders right in front of me) mostly when im sitting, i cant find the right or comftorable positon even thoe i try to have very good posture i feel like i could jam my shoulder in an forward position (and this causes pain) they "JUST" feel unstable i feel like i shoud stop swimming for a bit but i refuse to do that because i ve been in the pool for such a short time can you give me any advice on streching, strenghtening the shoulders/ any swimming muscle group and any more advice on when to to the exerciese i know that the best would be to join the swimm group like the Matt S said but thet is out of the question i must say ( for other higher forces reasons... :( thanks

Perhaps you should seek a Docs advise, preferably one familiar with sports medicine.