I have been swimming almost a year and as I am getting "better" I have been upping my distance and workout frequency.
I have slowly worked my way up to swimming three times a week and the distance is about 1500-2000yds a workout. I mix up intervals and straight swims. Mainly long swims in the summer and intervals in the winter. I think my approach has been rational thus far.
However, my left shoulder has started to bother me. I have made adjustments to my mechanics and as long as I don't let it get out too far from my body I can deal with it. Right now my left arm is really only along for the ride so to speak and I can't really crank on it the way I would like to generate full power.
I have talked with more experienced swimmers who have gone through shoulder issues. I am just working through it and hope it will subside.
What is likely going on in my shoulder? Is it just inflamation? What advice can you give? Should I just work through it at reduced intensity? Any specific workouts in or out of the water to help? I am freestyle only.
Parents
Former Member
I am a righty and my problem is in my right shoulder. I usually breathe to my left.
In my case, I started swimming around 1980-1981 when I was in my late 20's. I was doing 2500M at least once/week at that time, usually several times/week. Also at that time, I was doing open turns and touching the top edge of the pool at every turn with my right hand, which certainly did not help. Nonetheless, I did not have any problems until apx 1989. At that time, I recall a fairly long trip where I was carrying my 1 year old daughter in my right arm. I also had a benchpress mishap in which one collar came off, causing a violent back/forth motion of the bar. At any rate, I then developed the impingement (click) and big time pain in one shoulder to the point where I could not put on an overcoat or tighten a belt. After waiting a while with no improvement, I went to an MD who took MRI, prescribed PT, etc. After a few months, I was more-or-less back to normal. I did not stop swimming but slowed up a bit and gave up the open turns. I did give up the benchpressing.
Then sometime in the mid 1990's, I slipped on wet ground and landed on my right palm. This caused relapse of shoulder issues and some (short-lived) wrist issues as well. Again, after some PT, I was out of the pain. I now limit my distance swims to 1 or 2 times/week max. The MD also gave me a list of "shoulder hints" that I mostly follow - sleep with arms at side or on chest, don't lean on one arm when reading, use ladder instead of reaching overarm for shelves, and some other things.
I suspect that my problems had multiple causes but nearly all my swimming friends also had shoulder issues, so I wonder...
Regards,
I am a righty and my problem is in my right shoulder. I usually breathe to my left.
In my case, I started swimming around 1980-1981 when I was in my late 20's. I was doing 2500M at least once/week at that time, usually several times/week. Also at that time, I was doing open turns and touching the top edge of the pool at every turn with my right hand, which certainly did not help. Nonetheless, I did not have any problems until apx 1989. At that time, I recall a fairly long trip where I was carrying my 1 year old daughter in my right arm. I also had a benchpress mishap in which one collar came off, causing a violent back/forth motion of the bar. At any rate, I then developed the impingement (click) and big time pain in one shoulder to the point where I could not put on an overcoat or tighten a belt. After waiting a while with no improvement, I went to an MD who took MRI, prescribed PT, etc. After a few months, I was more-or-less back to normal. I did not stop swimming but slowed up a bit and gave up the open turns. I did give up the benchpressing.
Then sometime in the mid 1990's, I slipped on wet ground and landed on my right palm. This caused relapse of shoulder issues and some (short-lived) wrist issues as well. Again, after some PT, I was out of the pain. I now limit my distance swims to 1 or 2 times/week max. The MD also gave me a list of "shoulder hints" that I mostly follow - sleep with arms at side or on chest, don't lean on one arm when reading, use ladder instead of reaching overarm for shelves, and some other things.
I suspect that my problems had multiple causes but nearly all my swimming friends also had shoulder issues, so I wonder...
Regards,
