Are shoulder injuries caused solely by improper stroke mechanics? Can we avoid all pain using perfect technique? Can we throw away the ice pack forever? Or can shoulder pain be caused by other factors as well? Vote if you have an opinion.
Parents
Former Member
I very much like Lindsay's comments on this topic. I do not believe that shoulder injuries are due primarily to improper stroke technique. And, I can attest to this.
Terry mentions his fast male and fast female flyers not having any problems whatsoever with ongoing butterfly training. But I have a different point to make. WHEN this happens, not if it happens. Our bodies are marvelous machines and ultimately perform for years and years. But after 20, 30, 40 years of rotation, things can start to breakdown. When I was young and swam AAU from age 11 to 19, no problems. When I entered masters and swam that for 15 years, no problem. But in the early 90s, my left shoulder broke down due to high volume, not poor technique nor lack of stretching. This was factual as I had been warned about it several years (tests) before it happened and I took steps to try to get more "time" out of my shoulder with more stretching, more RC exercises, etc.
Everyone seems to have the answer to this question and I don't believe any of us really do, but I know for a fact from my experience that years and years of volume did mine in.
Donna
I very much like Lindsay's comments on this topic. I do not believe that shoulder injuries are due primarily to improper stroke technique. And, I can attest to this.
Terry mentions his fast male and fast female flyers not having any problems whatsoever with ongoing butterfly training. But I have a different point to make. WHEN this happens, not if it happens. Our bodies are marvelous machines and ultimately perform for years and years. But after 20, 30, 40 years of rotation, things can start to breakdown. When I was young and swam AAU from age 11 to 19, no problems. When I entered masters and swam that for 15 years, no problem. But in the early 90s, my left shoulder broke down due to high volume, not poor technique nor lack of stretching. This was factual as I had been warned about it several years (tests) before it happened and I took steps to try to get more "time" out of my shoulder with more stretching, more RC exercises, etc.
Everyone seems to have the answer to this question and I don't believe any of us really do, but I know for a fact from my experience that years and years of volume did mine in.
Donna
