I recently fractured my fifth metatarsal in my left foot. My orthopod has told me not to swim. I don't think he knows much about the pluses or minuses of swimming.
Does anyone know whether swimming could affect my broken foot? Obviously, I couldn't do flip turns and then push off with my left foot, but I would think that at a minimum I would be able to swim with a swim buoy.
I am a firm believer of continuing to utilize a hurt area of the body when it is ailing. Generally speaking, I find that "walking it off" works better than just sitting around. The activity gives your body a chance to keep the blood flowing to the affected region, and gives all the muscles, tendons, etc. a chance to keep normal action going so they don't atrophy, tighten, etc.
I did swim 6 months over the course of the last two years with casts on my wrists. Now I did hurt my shoulder as a side effect of trying to dry the thing by excessive windmilling. But nevertheless, I felt that the best progress was being made in recovery while I was actually swimming (as opposed to simply kicking my workouts).
I am always wary of "don't do any activity" coming from the doctors - but they're getting paid the big bucks for a reason. If you do get back in the pool - BE CAREFUL :)
I am a firm believer of continuing to utilize a hurt area of the body when it is ailing. Generally speaking, I find that "walking it off" works better than just sitting around. The activity gives your body a chance to keep the blood flowing to the affected region, and gives all the muscles, tendons, etc. a chance to keep normal action going so they don't atrophy, tighten, etc.
I did swim 6 months over the course of the last two years with casts on my wrists. Now I did hurt my shoulder as a side effect of trying to dry the thing by excessive windmilling. But nevertheless, I felt that the best progress was being made in recovery while I was actually swimming (as opposed to simply kicking my workouts).
I am always wary of "don't do any activity" coming from the doctors - but they're getting paid the big bucks for a reason. If you do get back in the pool - BE CAREFUL :)
